Abstract
M.A.
Our main objective in this M.A dissertation was to detect, define and evaluate the role, the function and the contribution of the Greek Press to the preservation of the national identity of the Hellenes in South Africa. Furthermore, to establish the Greek Press’ contribution to the salvage and the spreading of the Greek language and the Greek civilisation – the national and cultural heritage of the Hellenes – in the framework of the Greek Diaspora.
For this purpose, besides the studying of the Greek newspapers, booklets and magazines, which are, naturally, our main source we, have considered it necessary to give definitions and clarifications to words, ideas and terms related to our study field. This will enable us to gain a deeper and better understanding of the subject and will assist us to give the most appropriate answers to the questions set out in the introductory note. Thus, following the planned scheme of work and applying the historical and comparative method of research work, this study has taken the following form:
In the first chapter important terms were examined, meanings and definitions were established, like «istoria-history» and «glossa-language» etc. The communicative function of the language was explained and the term «media» was discussed extensively. More definitions were given on other terms like «Typos-Press» and «efimerida-newspaper» as well as a concise review of the history of the Greek Press in general. The contents of a Greek political newspaper were discussed, as well as the different forms of its function. Finally information was given on the Greek Press of the Diaspora and specifically on the Greek Press of Australia and Canada.
The second chapter contains a concise History of Hellenism in South Africa as it is found written partially in books, research works, articles of Greek writers in South Africa and other historiographers. Here we have also examined the relationship between Greece and the Greek Community of South Africa, through the years. We discussed the meaning and the importance of Archives in general, with emphasis on the Archives of Hellenism in South Africa, «work in progress», and gave a historical review of the South African Greek Press.
In the third chapter a list of the names of all the Greek newspapers, booklets and magazines published in South Africa and the former Rhodesia has been given in a chronological order. Examples and details of their appearance as well as the contents of the most long-standing ones are presented, with emphasis on the Nea Hellas of K.G. Nicolaidis.
In the fourth chapter, which covers 100 years of Greek journalism in South Africa, we have presented the analysis of four representative newspapers, which are attached at the end of this MA-dissertation. Specifically, we have analysed a copy of Nea Hellas of 1919, of Africanis and Nea Hellas of 1950, of the Greek Press of South Africa of 1999 and of Hellenica Nea of 2002. We have analyzed them page by page and have commented on the most important themes/issues.
The fifth chapter has covered the role and the function of the Greek Press of the Diaspora. By studying mainly the Greek newspapers we have established and assessed the role, function and the contribution of the South African Greek Press, and emphasized the importance of it by comparing it with the Greek Press of other countries of the Diaspora.
Ιn the epilogue, the conclusions of this study are presented, as well as the very special characteristics of the South African Greek Press.
Consequently, we followed the development of the journalism in South Africa, from K. G. Nicolaidis to Takis and Minas Constantopoulos and observed the shift of priorities on the themes of the newspapers, according to the needs of the Hellenes in South Africa, on the different times of their history. In general, we have found out that the Greek Press of the Diaspora, in South Africa and the former Rhodesia was a periodical Press, published twice a week, but never daily. The most common form of publication is the weekly and the fortnightly. In some cases monthly, every three months or even six months. Its main aims were the providing of news of Greece and news of the Community, its availability as means of communication among the Greeks in South Africa and other countries of Africa and also to provide educational and entertaining material.
It is a Greek Press that has patriotic and advisory characteristics. It is the Greek Press of the Diaspora, like earlier on, the Greek Press of Tergesti and Oddysou, Smyrna and Egypt, as well as the Greek Press of Australia, Canada, the United States of America and of other countries of the Neo-Hellenic Diaspora.
By studying the newspapers, the old and the new, the minor and the major, searching through the news, the articles and other publications, we rocognize those Hellenes that built churches, schools, Sporting Clubs and Old Age Homes. We understand the agony, the sorrows and the happiness of the Greeks of all generations in South Africa. We establish that they are the same Hellenes that always gave generously, not only to the needy in the motherland - Greece, but to the ones in South Africa as well.
Τoday, the Greek Press in South Africa, consists of the newspaper, Hellenic News and a few community or other organizational magazines/ booklets. It is battling to survive under very limited subscriptions and not many advertisements, due to the drastic «dwindling» of the Community, mainly over the last two decades. We hope that these problems will be resolved with the assistance of the various Greek establishments in South Africa, as well as by more Greek subscribers, so that this Greek Press can continue offering its most valuable services to Hellenism in South Africa.