Ontstaansgeskiedenis van Die Oranjeklub, met spesiale verwysing na die bevordering van die Suid-Afrikaanse toonkuns

[摘要] Die Oranjeklub was the first Afrikaans culture organisation in Cape Town. Active since 1915,it strove to shape Afrikaner identity and advance Afrikaner art and culture. The main aim ofthe club was to inspire national sentiment, especially among young Afrikaners, and to helpcultivate a love in this constituency for their language and history. This national sentimentwas nourished by meetings of social and cultural significance. In this respect, Die Oranjeklubplayed an integral role in early twentieth-century Cape Town to oppose a perceived Englishpolitical and cultural supremacy, acting as a buffer against the so-called 'ver-Engelsing' orAnglicization that was seen to threaten the identity of especially urban Afrikaners.Programmes during meetings usually comprised of a speech, supplemented by music andrecital items that were generally contributed by Afrikaans club members. Meetings thatdeviated from this norm were mainly evenings where plays were performed or festivaloccasionsof national importance in which the club was actively involved.The club's management comprised two levels: an honorary committee and an executivecommittee. Many historically important figures served on the honorary-committee. The listincludes names like D.F. Malan, J.B.M. Hertzog, C.J. Langenhoven and J.C. Smuts, amongstothers. The executive committee had equally noteworthy chairmen, like the writer I.D. duPlessis and the critic C.H. Weich. The names of many important musicians can be found onclub programmes, including Arnold van Wyk, Blanche Gerstman and Stefans Grové.Important actors and role players in theatre also participated in club events, amongst othersAnna Neethling-Pohl, N.P. van Wyk Louw and Sarah Goldblatt. Speakers includedpersonalities like D. Craven, C. Barnard and P.W. Botha.In 1976, after many decades trying to advance culture among white Afrikaners in Cape Town,the club was disbanded. This thesis documents, for the first time, the history of DieOranjeklub. It also considers the meaning of the club's cultural activities, especially its effortsto advance music among its members.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University