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'''Afrikaner''' is a [[South Africa]]n people group. They are descendants of 17th century [[Netherlands|Dutch]] settlers. They are also referred to as the Boers. [[Afrikaans]] is the language spoken by Afrikaners.  This community was committed to a policy of [[Segregation|racial segregation]], later referred to as [[apartheid]].

'''Afrikaner''' is term applied to a group of [[South Africa]]n people, descended from the original 17th century [[Netherlands|Dutch]] and [[Huguenot]] settlers. During [[British]] colonial rule they were also referred to as ''Boers'', as many of them were pastoral farmers. In an attempt to free themselves of British rule, small groups left the [[Cape Colony]] and headed for the interior, thus opening up the rest of the country, in what is known as the [[The Great Trek]].

 

The derogatory word ''Boer'' also gave rise to the term [[Boer War]] to describe the two wars fought between the British and majority Afrikaner forces during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. These have subsequently been renamed the [[South African Wars]]. [[Afrikaans]] is the language spoken by Afrikaners.   

 

The [[South African National Party|National Party]], which came into power in 1948, received a large amount of support from the Afrikaner community, fueled by anti-British sentiments carried over from the legacy of the [[South African Wars]] and pro-[[Nazi]] sentiment amongst its founders, many of whom were members of the subversive [[Ossewa-Brandwag]] (''Ox Wagon Torch Guard'') during [[World War 2]]. It was this party that later formalised the already-existing [[racial segregation]], imposed first by the [[Dutch]] and later by the [[British]] colonialists, giving it the name [[apartheid]].

[[Category:South Africa]]

[[Category:South Africa]]