Introduction
The English dictionary defines myth as an invented story, concept or idea which is used purposely to teach people or give them a direction in life. Myths were told to help people coexist peacefully with one another in the society. Myths were exposed to a specific audience and had a particular message which was intended to change the audience perception about certain issues within their ecosystem. South Africa is one country which had several myths about their people, the land and their unity. Example of some of the most known myths from southern Africa are the myth of the empty land, the myth of the Rainbow nation, the myth of the New South Africa and many others. This paper focuses on the myth of the Rainbow Nation. With regards to this myth, the paper aims at demonstrating that myths were used for the individual purpose and were tuned towards certain people to make them change their behaviors. Therefore, the paper will look at the historical context of the rainbow people, its audience, purpose and the message it had to its audience.
Context of the myth of the Rainbow nation
Racism in South Africa is not a new issue, with colonialism inhabitation of South African land; racism has been a challenge in this country. Racial segregation was the order of the day in South Africa after the national party in the years 1948 gained power. The white enforced law and policies which enhanced racial injustice and segregation in the land. This was a legislative system called the apartheid. Under this legislation, the black South Africans were forced by the white to live separately from the white people; they were to use different facilities and their contacts with the white were very limited. Despite strong opposing forces to this racial segregation both internally and outside the country, this rule lasted for some time in the country. 1 The struggle for the freedom of this country led to the nation where racial injustice and segregation reduced. To better describe the journey of the South Africa after on the post-apartheid South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu used came up with a myth and it was termed as the myth of the rainbow people. This myth was all about the life which was portrayed by the citizens of post-apartheid. The myth was about the democracy level of South Africa, and confidently, the archbishop claimed that the post-apartheid life was made by a life where all people despite their color accept each other in the country. To make the message clearer and to make the myth more strong, Nelson Mandela in his inauguration speech in the year 1994 further popularize this myth in the entire nation and continent. He claimed that "Each of us is as intimately attached to the soil of this beautiful country as are the famous jacaranda trees of Pretoria and the mimosa trees of the bushveld a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.."
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Audience
The myth was addressed to a specific audience in South Africa. Racial segregation was possible due to a group of people within the nation which were separated by the color and origin. These were the white and the blacks who lived in the vast land of South Africa. This myth addresses the citizens of South Africa despite their color. The apartheid period affected the country, and many people were shy from involving in business and tourism in the country. To convince people from other African countries and other nations in the world, this myth addresses all the citizens in these countries who wished to be in South Africa.
Message
The myth was based on the fact that during apartheid period, South Africa was messed up by racial segregation. The people who were there during a time when the racial discrimination dominated South Africa witnessed the injustices which happened during this time. The central message was that people should live together, in unity despite their color. Unity is the main message for the entire audience of South Africa. After the life of darkness clouded by the racial segregation, people of South Africa are now assumed under this myth to be living together, and ethnic discrimination is a story of the past.
Purpose
There are many reasons why this myth came to be. The first purpose is to enhance unity. The country spends almost 50 years during the period of apartheid. This was a time when the black citizens in South Africa were mistreated and segregated based on their colors. In black South, Africa residents were forced to live in their areas and used different facilities from the one which was utilized by the whites. The communication and interaction were also limited. This shuttered the peace which was supposed to prevail in the country. The post-Apartheid period saw some restoration for this peace, and this was what was being enhanced by this myth. Reduction of the racial segregation and enhancement of coexistence between the white and black South Africans was another purpose for the establishment of this myth. 2
Conclusion
Myths are made to be for certain purpose, and they have a specific massage which is tuned to a specific audience within the country or geographical location. This paper has used the myth of Rainbow Nation based in South Africa to demonstrate how myths have purpose, specific massage and are addressed to particular people.
Bibliography
Cunningham, J. "Rainbow Nation: Myth or Reality?." Retrieved on 29 (2010).
Day, Business. "Letter: Rainbow Nation myth. 3 Maart." (2016).
Roman, Nicolette V. "Parenting in a rainbow nation: A South African perspective on parenting." In Parenting Across Cultures , pp. 213-229. Springer Netherlands, 2014.
1 Cunningham, J. "Rainbow Nation: Myth or Reality?." Retrieved on 29 (2010).
Day, Business. "Letter: Rainbow Nation myth. 3 Maart." (2016).
2 Nicolette V Roman, "Parenting in a rainbow nation: A South African perspective on parenting." In Parenting Across Cultures , pp. 213-229. Springer Netherlands, 2014.
