The Making of Griqua, Inc.

With the dawn of democracy in South Africa in 1994, the struggle of indigenous Griqua for land has gained new momentum. Having lost most of their ancestral land in the 19th century due to colonialism, Griqua people are now using new legal opportunities to reclaim land. On their reobtained land Griqua people dwell, farm, celebrate indigenous festivals and create cultural villages for tourists. In doing so, Griqua people are currently contributing to the making of Ethnicity, Inc., the double process of commodification of culture and creation of ethnic businesses.

Erwin Schweitzer is lecturer in social and cultural anthropology at the University of Hamburg, Germany.