Dubul' ibhunu

Dubul' ibhunu (Xhosa: [dəbʊliːbuːnuː]), translated as shoot the Boer[1] or kill the Boer,[2] is a South African song. It has been criticised as being racist by AfriForum, the Democratic Alliance, and the Freedom Front Plus. It is sung in Xhosa and Zulu.

Boers, a sub-group of Afrikaners, are the descendants of the Dutch-speaking Free Burghers of the eastern Cape frontier in southern Africa who migrated to the rest of what would become South Africa during the Great Trek. The word boer also means 'farmer' in the Afrikaans language.[3] Depending on the interpretation, the song might alternatively refer to institutional structures such as the National Party (NP); or to specific groups of people such as members of the South African Police (colloquially known as Boers) and armed forces during apartheid.[4]

Supporters of the song see it as a song that articulates an important part of South Africa's history,[4][5] is an important part of political discourse,[6][7] and that its meaning has been misconstrued.[8] Opponents of the song argue that can be seen to bear a literal interpretation[9][10][11][12] and therefore constitutes hate speech.[9][3]

The song, along with the slogan "One settler, one bullet", is often associated with the phenomenon of farm attacks in South Africa.[13]: 14  On 6 August 2023, The South African reported on a "surge" in attacks on white farmsteads after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) sang the song.[14] The Anti-Defamation League has issued a notice stating that despite its origins, the crude lyrics could be interpreted as a call for violence and urged to avoid invoking expressions that include violent threats.[15]

Controversy

The song originates in the struggle against apartheid when it was first sung to protest the Afrikaner dominated apartheid government of South Africa.[16]

In post-apartheid South Africa the song has been most notably sung by then African National Congress Youth League leader Julius Malema[17] and then South African President Jacob Zuma.[18] Then African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Gwede Mantashe has stated that interpreting dubul' ibhunu as 'kill the boer, kill the farmer' are perceiving a "vulgarised" version of the song that "incit[es] conflict" and that the song should instead be interpreted in the context of the struggle against apartheid as referring to a system.[9][19] Critics of the song such as AfriForum and TAU-SA believe that the song encourages, and can be partly blamed for, the violent attacks on South African farms owned by White people.[4]

At the EFF's 10th anniversary rally in 2023, Malema again sang the song to an estimated 90,000 supporters[20] at the FNB Stadium.[21] The incident received international coverage with Elon Musk criticizing Malema on Twitter for singing the song, accusing him of "openly pushing for the genocide of white people in South Africa".[21][22] Malema subsequently replied on Twitter stating "O bolela masepa ("You are talking shit").[22] Following the EFF's 2023 rally Afriforum stated that the song was, according to testimony from Amanda Platt, sung by the perpetrators during a violent farm attack on Tim and Amanda Platt in KwaZulu-Natal; citing the incident as evidence of the song's literal and violent intent.[23]

South Africa's official opposition political party, the Democratic Alliance, stated it would file a complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Council[21][24] whilst the Freedom Front Plus opened a case of intimidation.[24] Malema later denied the accusation, citing Judge Molahlehi's 2022 judgement that the song was to be interpreted within its political context and thus not to be taken literally.[21][24][25] Malema also stated that he and the EFF would continue to sing the song.[26]

Court decisions

The song has been the subject of multiple court cases seeking to determine if the song is a form of hate speech, which is not protected speech by the South African Constitution and so is an offence to utter, or if it is a form of free speech that is protected by the constitution.

2010 South Gauteng High Court decision

In March 2010 South Gauteng High Court found that the phrase, spoken or sung, dubul'ibhunu ('shoot the boer') amounted to hate speech[8][9] and was therefore not protected free speech as outlined in section 16 of the South African constitution.[9]

2011 Equality Court decision

In September 2011, the Equality Court at the South Gauteng High Court ruled that the song was discriminatory, harmful, undermined the dignity of Afrikaners, and thereby constituted hate speech;[17] and that it "prima facie satisfies the crime of incitement to murder."[27] The court ruled that Julius Malema, who was brought before the court for previously singing the song at rallies, was forbidden from singing it in the future.[17] Following the ruling Malema changed the wording of the song to "Kiss the Boer" and sang that instead[28] — however, it can be argued to still have the same psychological influence as the original, due to the well-known context for the altered lyrics. The following year, the ANC stated that they would not sing the song any more.[28]

2022 Johannesburg High Court decision

Malema, now leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), again appeared in court in 2022 for allegedly singing the song in a case brought by Afriforum where the issue of whether or not the song was hate speech was debated.[29] The Johannesburg High Court ruled that the chant and song were not intended to be taken seriously; that Afriforium had failed to establish a causal link between the song and violence;[30][31] that the reference to Boer did not literally refer to White or Afrikaans people; that the song did not incite hatred towards White people generally; and ruled the song was not hate speech.[31][32][33] Afriforum said it would appeal the judgement to the Supreme Court.[34]

Lyrics

See also

References
  1. Gray, Louise (10 September 2010). "Can Music Kill?". Index on Censorship. 39 (3): 112–120. doi:10.1177/0306422010379686.
  2. Thompson, Mabunda M.; Ramhurry, Cindy (7 March 2014). "A uniting song that divides: A critical analysis of (Kill the Boer)". Muziki. 11 (1): 32–42. doi:10.1080/18125980.2014.893091. S2CID 145002213.
  3. Gray, Louise (September 2010). "Can Music Kill?". Index on Censorship. 39 (3): 113. doi:10.1177/0306422010379686. ISSN 0306-4220. S2CID 145339333.
  4. Quintal, Genevieve (19 May 2011). "'Shoot the boer': Lost in translation?". The M&G Online. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  5. Msila, Vuyisile (20 September 2011). "Mini and the song: The place of protest song in history" (PDF). www.sahistory.org.za. UNISA. p. 13. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  6. Gunner, Liz (2015). "Song, identity and the state: Julius Malema's "Dubul' ibhunu" song as catalyst". Journal of African Cultural Studies. 27 (3): 326–341. doi:10.1080/13696815.2015.1035701. ISSN 1369-6815. JSTOR 24758684. S2CID 142721849.
  7. "Malema, Economic Freedom Fighters singing 'Kill the Boer' ruled not hate speech". The Mail & Guardian. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  8. "South Africa's songs of power". BBC News. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  9. Brkic, Branko (29 March 2010). "'Kill the Boer': a brief history". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  10. SAPA (11 March 2010). "ANC OK with Malema singing "shoot the boer"". PoliticsWeb. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  11. Mutasa, Haru. "'Shoot the Boer' freedom song banned". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  12. "Uproar as judge bars Shoot the Boer song". legalbrief.co.za. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  13. "SAPS Report of a special committee of inquiry into farm attacks" (PDF). Africa Check. South African Police Service. 31 July 2003. pp. 14, 233, 445. Retrieved 20 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  14. Farm attacks in SA surge after EFF sings "Kill the Boer" song, the south african.com. Accessed 8 August 2023.
  15. "ADL Statement on "Kill the Boer"". www.adl.org.
  16. Brkic, Branko (29 March 2010). "'Kill the Boer': a brief history". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  17. "'Shoot the boer': It's hate speech, says judge". The M&G Online. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  18. "Hate speech charge laid against Jacob Zuma". News24. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  19. Pretorius, Joelien (2014). ""Dubula ibhunu" (shoot the boer): A psycho-political analysis of farm attacks in South Africa" (PDF). Psychology in Society. 47: 22 – via University of the Western Cape.
  20. "South African opposition torn apart over apartheid song". Africanews. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  21. Kgosana, Rorisang (2 August 2023). "'I will sing 'Kill the Boer' as and when I please': Malema responds to struggle song outrage". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  22. Ditabo, Malaika (1 August 2023). "Elon Musk vs Julius Malema: EFF leader accused of inciting genocide with 'Kill the boer' song". News24. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  23. "Attackers chant "Kill the Boer, kill the Farmer" before stabbing female victim with spear - AfriForum". afriforum.co.za. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  24. Ramushwana, Alpha (2 August 2023). "Malema defends the singing of 'Kill the boer, kill the farmer'". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  25. "Afriforum opposed to 'Kill the Boer' chant at EFF 10th anniversary celebration". SABC News. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  26. Masungwini, Norman (2 August 2023). "Malema promises 'kill the boer' chant will remain in his repertoire". City Press. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  27. Staff Reporter (19 May 2011). "Judge to ignore 'shoot the boer' order for Malema case – The Mail & Guardian". mg.co.za. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  28. Smith, David (1 November 2012). "South Africa: ANC promises to stop singing Shoot the Boer". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  29. Masweneng, Kgaugelo (18 February 2022). "Expert witness in hate crime case unpacks use and significance of 'Dubul' ibhunu'". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  30. "'Afriforum failed to establish causal link between 'Kill the boer' & violence'". 702. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  31. "English translation of Aw Dubul'ibhunu | IOL News". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  32. Broughton, Tania (25 August 2022). "GROUNDUP: EFF singing of 'Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer' not hate speech, court rules". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  33. Masson, Eunice (25 August 2022). "Malema, Economic Freedom Fighters singing 'Kill the Boer' ruled not hate speech". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  34. Masungwini, Norman (25 August 2022). "EFF celebrates while AfriForum vows to appeal 'kill the boer' judgment". News24.
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