Afrikaner in Eswatini

Introduction / History

Afrikaners are a White minority group that usually lives in South Africa and other countries in southern Africa. The Afrikaans language is a dialect of Dutch, with words borrowed from other languages.

They originated mainly from Dutch settlers and French Protestants who fled France to avoid prosecution by the Catholic church. They settled in South Africa, establishing farms and dominating the gold and diamond trades until the British Empire took over the region in the Second Boer War, which ended in 1902.

After Black Africans took control of South Africa in 1994, some Afrikaners moved to other parts of the world. Though a small number are in the Netherlands and the U.K., there is a larger Afrikaner diaspora in southern African countries such as Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Eswatini and Lesotho. Other Afrikaners have been in these countries for generations. Most Afrikaners remain in South Africa.

What Are Their Lives Like?

There are only a small number of Afrikaners in Eswatini. They often blend in with other White European people. Afrikaners are often farmers in Eswatini. Others work in cities.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Afrikaners are usually Protestant like their Dutch ancestors. They have their own churches, most of which adhere to the Bible as the final word of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ. However, this has traditionally been tainted by racial overtones not found in Scripture.

What Are Their Needs?

Afrikaners need to put all their faith in Jesus Christ. They need to obey the word of God even when it hurts them economically and socially.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to give them a willingness to obey the word of God no matter what the circumstances.
Pray for a Jesus-oriented revival of Afrikaners in Eswatini that will bless them and the people around them.
Pray for Afrikaners to become an important mission force in the 21st century.

Text Source:   Joshua Project