Ruhan Fourie

Prof. Hayes speaking to students.

Dr Fourie's seminar.

Audience at Dr Fourie's seminar.

Busy day: Prof. Patricia Hayes of @uwconline.bsky.social spoke to grad students on using photos as historical sources. Dr Ruhan Fourie @ruhanfourie.bsky.social spoke on “'Oorlog om die Volksiel!': Organised anticommunism & the mainstreaming of the rooi gevaar” with Dr Anell Daries as discussant.

Job advert. Text of the job advert reads: "UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE UNIVERSITEIT VAN DIE VRYSTAAT YUNIVESITHI YA FREISTATA UFS THE HUMANITIES The International Studies Group (ISG) at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, has vacancies for postdoctoral Research Fellows starting in September 2025, with an annual tax-free stipend of ZAR 275,000. The positions are full-time for one year, with the possibility of extension for a further two years contingent on satisfactory progress. The ISG, headed by Professor lan Phimister, is a research-intensive department, made up of post-doctoral Fellows and PhD students. Although the group particularly specialises in Central and Southern African history, applications are encouraged from candidates with any specialisation in African and/or global and imperial history. Criteria Essential A PhD of not more than two years standing at the time of appointment Excellent written, oral and interpersonal skills A project to produce original research outputs Desirable Previous experience of supervising student dissertations Experience of departmental administration Proven track record of attracting external research funding Application Process Applicants are asked to send a CV, along with a covering letter outlining their suitability for the position and their proposed research and publication plans. These should be emailed as one document to Ms Tari Gwena at gwenat@ufs.ac.za by 12pm on 15 April 2025. In addition, applicants should arrange for two letters of recommendation to be sent to the above address. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by 13 May. If you have not been contacted by this date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful."

The International Studies Group at the University of the Free State in South Africa is recruiting postdocs in history.

This is my old department and I spent three happy years working there.

Rituals, rites and rumours: how women claim power in Zimbabwe’s informal gold mines In Zimbabwe it was believed that if a woman went underground the gold seam would vanish, but above ground women held spiritual power over mines.

Latest blog article with @wildpasts.bsky.social
On women, rituals and gold mining in Zimbabwe.
theconversation.com/rituals-rite...

Geloftedag 2024: waarom die oplewing? - LitNet "Dat Geloftedag in 2024 nog gevier word, is nie ’n verrassing nie. Daar is ook min twyfel dat daar vir jare wat nog kom, Geloftefeeste gaan wees. Die vraag hier is eerder hóékom daar so ’n oplewing in...

I reflected on this for the Afrikaans publication LitNet. A lot can be said on the topic, especially the religious logic of these gatherings. But I wonder if the resurgence is not a product of organised disillusionment along ethnic lines 4/4

🔗 shorturl.at/7okDy

32 000 Afrikaners rocked up at the Voortrekker Monument on 16 December 2023; currently celebrated as Reconciliation Day in South Africa. Last year it was 35 000 attendees. 3/4

Textbook nationalist myth-making. Attendance of these gatherings, particularly at the Voortrekker Monument, dwindled at the end of apartheid. Attendance therefore lost its ritualistic nature a long time ago. Why are we seeing a resurgence of attendance the last few years? 2/4

There seems to be a revival of Day of the Vow gatherings. Historically these celebrations were a cornerstone of Afrikaner nationalistic propaganda which inculcated the idea that the Battle of Blood River (1838) was a triumph of Christian civilisation over African barbarism 🧵1/4

5/ If you’re interested in South African history, the dynamics of nationalism, or how religion intersects with politics, let’s connect! I’m excited to share ideas and learn from others here on Bluesky 🦋

Beyers Naudé giving a speech

4/ One of my ongoing projects focuses on Beyers Naudé, a prominent Afrikaner church leader who became a powerful voice for justice and reconciliation, challenging the apartheid regime from within.

Christian Nationalism and Anticommunism in Twentieth-Century South Africa This book investigates Afrikaner anticommunism in South Africa in the twentieth century, focusing on the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC). Following contemporary understandings of anticommunism as a fluid ...

3/ I’ve just published my first monograph:
📘 Christian Nationalism and Anticommunism in Twentieth-Century South Africa (Routledge, 2024). It’s a deep dive into how anticommunism influenced Afrikaner identity and political movements. shorturl.at/tZ9H5

2/ My recent work explores how Christian nationalism and anticommunism shaped the political and cultural landscape of apartheid-era South Africa. These ideologies played a pivotal role in justifying and sustaining systemic oppression during this period.

1/ Hi, Bluesky! 👋
I’m a historian from South Africa specialising in Afrikaner nationalism, anticommunism, and the life of Beyers Naudé. My research delves into the intersections of religion, politics, and ideology in 20th-century South Africa. 🧵

He has been galvanised in the struggle canon of South Africa, but the apartheid state, when arresting him in 1977, destroyed most of his personal documents. It’s an archival treasure hunt to construct his life now.

Collection of newspaper clippings about Beyers Naudé

Great to be back in an archive! The Dutch Reformed Church Archive in Stellenbosch (with its great staff!) is really a treasure trove for historians of colonial and apartheid South Africa. Here I’m tracing archival bread crumbs on anti-apartheid activist Beyers Naudé.

If I remember correctly, it started with grocery shopping specials, not consumer products, which also says something about our context!

Gifted band of Breytenbach brothers Remembering Jan Breytenbach and his brothers Breyten and Cloete.

Breyten Breytenbach has died—this is an interesting piece by Max du Preez from June, about the three Breytenbach brothers: one a general in apartheid South Africa’s army, another a poet and committed opponent of apartheid, and the third a photographer of the violence wrought by that state:

Super useful. Thanks for sharing, Márcia! 👏

Again sending around this starter pack courtesy of @viewfromargus.bsky.social

go.bsky.app/3h6n3YC

This is very helpful for new historians on here, thanks! 🙏