Louis Theroux Meets The Boer Leader | BBC

Summary

In "Louis Theroux Meets The Boer Leader," Louis engages in a tense conversation with a representative of the Boer people in South Africa. The leader conveys his strong feelings about the identity of Boer people and insists on their European descent, stressing that non-whites can never be Boers. The interaction highlights the rigid beliefs of the leader regarding race, culture, and identity, revealing complexities in post-apartheid South African dynamics. Despite Louis's attempts for a more nuanced discussion, the conversation remains charged, reflecting deeper societal tensions.

Highlights

• The Boer leader emphatically excludes non-whites from Boer identity. 🚷
• Tension builds as Theroux tries to maintain a dialogue amid interruptions. 🤝
• The Boer leader expresses a bleak view of post-apartheid South Africa. 🌍

Key Takeaways

• Louis Theroux engages with a Boer leader to understand his views on South African identity. 🗣️
• The Boer leader insists that only white Europeans can be considered Boers. 🚫
• Tensions arise as the leader insists on choosing the tone of the interview. 📢
• The leader expresses distrust towards South Africa's democratic state. ⚖️
• Persistent focus on historical context and cultural pride by the Boer leader. 🇿🇦

Overview

Louis Theroux's interview with a Boer leader delves into the stringent racial and cultural definitions of Boer identity. The leader asserts a clear division between his people—of European descent—and other South African populations. Despite Theroux's attempts to engage in a lower-key dialogue, the leader remains adamant about controlling the tone and content of the conversation.

As the discussion unfolds, the leader's resistance to the new South African democratic structure becomes evident. His expressions of mistrust and disdain for the country's direction after apartheid reveal deep-seated feelings that are shared by a section of the population resisting change. These sentiments, rooted in a complex historical context, challenge the idea of a unified national identity.

The tense dynamic between Theroux and the Boer leader underscores the delicate balance of acknowledging multiple perspectives within a post-apartheid society. It highlights the ongoing challenges South Africa faces in reconciling its past with its democratic aspirations, as well as the difficulties in fostering open, receptive dialogues across deeply entrenched cultural and racial lines.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction and Background The chapter "Introduction and Background" opens with a discussion about Johannesburg. The speaker relinquishes any claim or connection to Johannesburg, highlighting it as a place where conflicts began. The city is noted for its significant black population and the presence of people from foreign countries. There is a clear distance and disassociation expressed by the speaker towards Johannesburg, hinting at complex socio-political dynamics.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Discussion on Boor Identity The chapter titled 'Discussion on Boor Identity' appears to explore the concept of states within states, specifically focusing on the historical context of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State as two republics. The discussion seems to transition into cultural discussions related to these regions, possibly delving into their cultural identities.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Cultural and Racial Identity The chapter discusses the concept of identity, particularly focusing on cultural and racial identity. It delves into a conversation about whether nonwhite individuals can possess qualities attributed to 'boors'—a term often synonymous with a certain cultural identity associated with Dutch settlers in South Africa, known as Afrikaners. The text questions preconceived notions of identity linked to race and emphasizes that identity transcends mere physical appearance. It underscores qualities such as being God-fearing, accepting of natural elements, pride, patriotism, historical awareness, and language as attributes that are not confined to any single race or culture.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Defending Boor Identity The chapter discusses the distinct identity of the Boor people, emphasizing that they do not consider themselves Africans from Africa, but rather as descendants of European nations such as Britain, Ireland, France, and the Netherlands. The speaker also addresses the political control over two republics, affirming that they should be ruled as the property of the Bu people, indicating a strong sense of cultural and political autonomy.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Contrasting Views on South Africa This chapter discusses various opinions and ideologies concerning South Africa, particularly focusing on contrasting views related to race and identity within the country. It mentions the priority to protect one's ethnic group and highlights certain values and characteristics that are associated with being a 'boor,' such as toughness, pride, patriotism, and a sense of history. The narrative underscores the idea that, traditionally, to be considered part of this culture one must be white, indicating a racial exclusivity that excludes black or non-white individuals.
• 02:30 - 03:00: Conclusion and Tensions In the chapter titled 'Conclusion and Tensions,' the text discusses the significant demographic imbalance in South Africa, where there are approximately 3.2 million non-black people in contrast to 40 million black people. This demographic is connected to broader social and political tensions within the country. The chapter reflects on the transformation of South Africa into a democratic nation, highlighting the excitement and potential inherent in this change, especially as those who have contributed to infrastructure, such as highways and schools, may no longer hold the central positions they once did. This hints at underlying tensions about power and contribution in this new era.

Louis Theroux Meets The Boer Leader | BBC Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 part of of that but you can have Johannesburg is that Johannesburg yeah okay I give it to you tonight you can have him I cuz I mean I I don't claim any part of South afri person I am not claiming Johannesburg okay why not because Johannesburg is is a uh is a place where the war started uh there are a majority of black people and people from foreign countries they can have it worth love from me okay
• 00:30 - 01:00 so it can be a state in a state so what does that leave say again what does that leave that leaves this area here oh that is the two republics of the transval and the orange free state all right me Africans spre start now my friend we can start to talk culture just to make it a little easier to understand brought a um I've brought
• 01:00 - 01:30 a small chart a lot of these qualities are in uh black people and colored people too can a nonwhite person be a boor never never never he can never be a boor what about if he has all these qualities Christian God-fearing accepts the elements weather toughness Pride patriotism sense of history speaks Africans and he just happens not to be white it is not a matter of black and white my friend you really do not
• 01:30 - 02:00 understand why we are not Africans from Africa we are white people the descendence of the British and and the Irish and and the French people and the Dutch people we are from Europe you don't want me to rule those two bu republics as the sole property of The Bu people can I make a distin no you ask me the question and I answer it no definitely no my task is to
• 02:00 - 02:30 defend my people against the ideas to destroy my people thanks for clearing that up if I could recap Christian God-fearing excepts the elements the weather toughness Pride patriotism of being a boor sense of History boor history ideally should speak Africans not you work very hard to come to the last Point must be white must be white if we allow black people or non-white
• 02:30 - 03:00 people to become boor people then it will be the end of the existence of the poor people because in South Africa alone we are only 3 and A2 million against 40 million black people there's an exciting New Country a democratic country exciting yeah South it seems why are you saying that what is exciting exciting that the people who build the highways and the schools are not in the
• 03:00 - 03:30 in the government anymore is that exciting the downfall the down civilization can we just can we just lower the tone slightly no no you you you are you are having the interview with me I'll choose the volume of the tone do you understand me yes okay then you accept it and if you don't want to have you interview take your cameras and go at okay okay I I'm not in court and you're not cross questioning okay no I
• 03:30 - 04:00 understand that okay no I just don't don't try to be cocky my friend I'm not trying to be cocky yeah I'm really I'm really trying to establish some kind of um dialogue you take another tone my friend and never tell me I must have reduced my volume I'm a boor and I don't need you or your publicity my friend all right I think it's um it's obvious that we're not going to agree about everything I would say though that um uh
• 04:00 - 04:30 I I sense that you uh moderated somewhat in your in your beliefs because years ago it seemed as though you were talking about armed struggle and predicted a civil war but I I predicted that there will be a revolution between black nations in South Africa and so what does the AWB your organization do at that point well we will defend ourselves we will not allow those forces your land then do you grab this
• 04:30 - 05:00 area of the transall and the orange free state listen I am not grabbing anything I am entitled to my that's what I meant I mean no no you ask me what I will do and then you you decide to ask me if I will grab put off that cam camera my can we just can I just shake hands and say thank you very much you have a firm handshake we're supposed to oh that's am I why you squeezing it so hard am I not a man yeah meaning meaning am I not a man is that Shakespeare