Boer Prisoner of War Art
Fransjohan Pretorius explains why the Boer War of 1899-1902 was a period of sustained and spontaneous creation of folk art, one of the most productive and creative times in the cultural history of the Afrikaner.
When the Boer War ended on May 31st, 1902, more than 20,000 Boer prisoners of war had to be repatriated from various camps in the British Empire. This process lasted until 1903 and some hardliners in India who refused to return to a British South Africa returned even later, while others never did. But apart from taking part in or attending sport meetings and smoking concerts, how had these prisoners whiled away their time? One pastime, the manufacturing of handicrafts from any available material, became increasingly important to the prisoners, both as a response to their captivity, as a means of creative expression and as a practical means by which they could make items to sell or barter.
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