Famous People

Nelson Mandela is probably the most famous South African. Other famous politicians include F. W. de Klerk, Steve Biko and Jan Smuts who was perhaps South Africa's only international statesman until Mandela. Perhaps the world's most famous Anglican churchman is Desmond Tutu.

J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Silmarillion was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa in 1892.

Well known South African sports stars include Gary Player, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen; Jody Schekter; Kevin Curren; Zola Budd; Jonty Rhodes.

While South Africa was isolated by the cultural boycott in the 1980s, there are now many well-known South African performing artists and writers. They include playwrights such as Athol Fugard, and satirist Pieter Dirk Uys, actors like Anthony Sher, Hollywood stars like Oscar-winner Charlize Theron, and The Mummy Returns co-star Arnold Vosloo.

In music, the groups African Jazz Pioneers and Ladysmith Black Mambazo have found popularity worldwide. Ladysmith Black Mambazo's collaboration with Paul Simon in 1986 paved the way for many other musicians to gain popularity amongst international audiences, such as Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, who popularized Mbaqanga music across the world. Another well known artist of South African origin is Dave Matthews, lead singer of the Dave Matthews Band. Miriam Makeba, a singer who first found fame in the anti-apartheid movie Come Back, Africa, Dudu Pukwana, a gifted jazz musician, and Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand), being on the wrong side of the colour bar, had to leave South Africa to fully exploit their talents - their music was not played on South African radio. Johnny Clegg's two groups Juluka and Savuka had huge cross-over appeal in the 1980s; his music is enjoying something of a revival.