South Africa is often described as “the rainbow nation” because of its diverse population. A home to migrants from Europe, Asia, and other African nations, there are also many indigenous ethnic groups living in South Africa, represented in the nation’s 11 official languages. However, this diversity was not always celebrated — South Africa was once a nation starkly split along racial and cultural lines. From 1948 to 1991, the political system was dominated by apartheid, which enforced racial segregation and incited major inequality. Today’s South Africa still reflects this history through its extreme disparities and the immense divide between the rich and poor.
In 1994, the election of the first multiracial parliament created widespread optimism and hope. While there is still a sense of separation in the country, and issues such as high unemployment and the HIV/AIDS epidemic threaten economic progress, South Africans are determined to make up for decades of social disruption, inequitable services, and lost opportunities.
