South+Africa+-+Makaylah



Total Population: 56,500,000 CBR: 21/1000 CDR: 9/1000 IMR: 31/1000 NMR: 2/1000 TFR:2.8 children GNI PPP/capita: 718.9 billion life expectancy: 61 years Male: 59 years Female: 63 years

South Africa is currently in stage two of the demographic transition model because death rates are rapidly declining and birth rates are rising. In 2050 South Africa will be in stage 4 becuase at this point the population should stable out.

In an article written about South Africas population, they have found out that over 2/3 of the population is under the age of 15 but also that the amount of people over the age 60 has also increased by 3%. The artical also explain how the population is growing much faster than economic growth, which could be an issue. http://ewn.co.za/2017/07/31/sa-population-rises-to-56-5-million-stats-sa

QUESTION: Why do you think so much of the population is made up of people under the age of 15?

Because South Africa is made up of so many different cultures and people their traditional dress is made up of all these different cultures. What you wear all depends on your age and social ranking. For example, the Xhosa typically wear long skirts and aprons. They also wore elaborate beaded necklaces and braclets. Men were warriors so they wore animal skin. In the Zulu, when women are single they wear short grass-reed skirt and married women wear long skirts and cover their body. Married women wore circular hats called izicolo. This is a member of the Ndebele wearing traditional dress of a married women. Her apron has geometric designs and most of her body is covered. https://theculturetrip.com/africa/south-africa/articles/an-introduction-to-south-african-traditional-dress/
 * Folk Culture- Clothing**

QUESTION: Why do you think there are so many different cultures in South Africa?

There are eleven official South African languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Africaan, English, Northern Sotho, Tswana, Sotho, Tsong, Swazi, Venda, and Ndebele. The languages are in order of how many people speak them. Most Africans speak more than one language. When South Africa became a republic, Afrikaans was to include Dutch. Then in 1984 Dutch was dropped and the two official languages became English and Afrikaans. There languages include two West Germanic languages and nine Southern Bantu languages.
 * Language**

The article I read talked about how there are too many official South African languages that the government can't keep track of them and is underfunding them. Along with that there is also corruption and mismangement within the system. https://www.economist.com/blogs/johnson/2012/07/language-south-africa

Video of languages: https://youtu.be/mX98AKie0Ik

QUESTION: Why do you think there are so many official South African languages?

Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and traditional African religions are the most prevelant religions in South Africa. Europeans brought most of these religions. Traditional African religion is very popular and arrived through North and West African ancestors. It is often combined with elements of Christianity and Islam. Religion and spirituality are used to create a greater understanding rather than to divide the people of South Africa as in the past. Religion has spread through relocation diffustion. Since South Africa is big on religious freedom there is little to no religous conflicts. QUESTION: Why do you think Africa is made up of so many different religions? And why do you think they are so accepting to all of them?
 * Religion**