"THE TERRIBLE LAUGHTER OF THE AFRIKANER"- TOWARDS A SOCIAL HISTORY OF HUMOR.

WIT & humor; SOUTH African War, 1899-1902; AFRIKANERS; SOUTH African military history; HOBBES, Thomas, 1588-1679; BILLIG, Michael

The article examines the resilient humor of the conquered Boer people in the aftermath of the South African War of 1899-1902. Topics include theories of humor advanced by Thomas Hobbes and Michael Billig, a style of humor characteristic of Boers who fought as commandos in the war, the significance of ridicule in the war's aftermath, and the role of humor in helping the war's survivors cope. The author demonstrates the central role played by the South African War in establishing a rhetorical tradition among the post-war Boers.