‘Uit die hart van die volk en tot die hart van die volk’ Jan F.E. Celliers als volksdichter

In this article, Afrikaner nationalism from the first decades of the 20th century is seen against the backdrop of European cultural nationalism. Comparison shows that particular features that have often been considered as unique to Afrikaner nationalism, like hero worship and the investment of nationalist discourse with religious connotations were widespread in 19th century Europe as well. Special attention is paid to the cult around the ‘people’s poet’, Jan F.E. Celliers. Through the veneration for his person and his work, the Afrikaners were drawn closer together as an imagined community. However, the meaning that was attributed to this iconic figure developed over time, in accordance with the changing needs of the Afrikaners as a nation.

Abstract licence: CC BY

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