To answer this question, we first need to determine who a Boer is as well as who are the Boervolk. The Boervolk have their roots in Protestant Europe and include descendants of Germanic, Dutch, French, English, Scandinavian, Polish, Russian, Portuguese and Slavic origins. They were predominantly cattle ranchers, farmers, and artisans. Yet, over time, a unique character has shaped this community, clearly distinguishing her and creating a separate identity of her own.

Identity of the Boer

First, a distinction must be made between the term Boer and boer. The later, boer, refers to a profession as in a farmer or livestock/game farmer. The first, Boer, refers to person himself, his humanity, his character.

A Boer is the descendant of the Protestant European who, led by his Heavenly Father, came to the southern tip of Africa. He drifted away from slavery under Jan van Riebeeck and the V.O.C.'s freemason's Heeren XVII, from the Cape Dutch liberals and from persecution from certain church pulpits, as well as from British domination.

Their aspiration was to serve their Creator freely as a separate people; to create a safe home for their offspring within a territory of their own. In times of great need, the Boervolk twice cried out to the Almighty Father during which their Vows were accepted.

Definition of a True Boer

A true Boer is a deeply believing, principled person who relies only on his Heavenly Father's Word. He lives out his faith without shame, has a love for his neighbor, and abhors what his Father considers lawless; that which is hated by his Father. The Boergene and its racial authenticity are, according to tradition and Scriptural foundation, deeply rooted and bring a special love for the soil, the smell of wet or dry earth, and nature in all its forms.

Future

Today, some believe, the Boervolk are "lost" – swallowed up by worldly systems. A small handful of ex-combatants, however, remain faithful: they seek freedom and truth, and teach others to awaken. They believe that their Heavenly Father will purify and heal the land again, and that the Boervolk must declare their dependence before Him. His Word is faithful and He promises that He will lead them again.

The Afrikaner: A Misleading Identity?

Now that you know who can be a Compartiot (Volksgenoot) of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Boervolk, an important question needs to be addressed: Why do so many people not know that they are Boer?

Over the years, many Compatriots (Volksgenote) have been misled into believing that they  are Afrikaners and belong to the so-called Afrikaner people (Afrikanervolk). However, this misconception is far from the truth. Although Afrikaans is a common language, it does not mean that everyone who speaks it belongs to the same people. A people requires, in addition to a language of its own, its own culture, history, faith and, very importantly, a distinctive ethnicity. The so-called "Afrikaner people" does not meet these internationally recognised criteria for being a people, and therefore cannot be defined internationally as a people as per UN rulings in 1994, 1996 and 2005.

So, who or what is the "Afrikaner"? In simplicity: anyone who uses Afrikaans as their mother tongue. But that is also precisely the problem – the term has taken on an inclusive and watered-down character, which has been used for years to obscure and appropriate the identity of the true Boer. Through Afrikaner nationalism,  much of the Boervolk's heritage has been assimilated over decades: her language, culture, history, territory and identity have been passed on to a fictitious "Afrikaner people" that essentially cannot exist.

It's not just a cultural takeover – it's also historically been an act of betrayal. More than 50,000 Afrikaners helped the British during the genocide of the Boervolk. As a reward, they were given land for which the Boer paid dearly with blood. After that genocide, the Afrikaner received foreign aid – something that the downtrodden Boer was deprived of. Since then, the Boervolk's sovereignty has been undermined, and her rights controlled and abused by others - the Afrikaner.

This deception by Afrikaner nationalism was so effective that most people who call themselves "Afrikaners" do not realise that they are actually Boer.

A further source of confusion is the word itself. "Boer" (with a lowercase letter) is often understood as simply a farmer, while "Boer" (with a capital letter) goes much deeper – it is an identity. Any Boer can be a farmer, but not every farmer is necessarily a Boer. There are many true Boer compatriots who do not farm on the land – they work in the corporate world or other sectors – but their nationhood and identity is rooted in their ancestry, values and beliefs: Boer.

Your choice: Afrikaner or Boer?

With this knowledge – which is only the tip of the iceberg – it is now time to take an honest look at yourself:

Do you consider yourself an Afrikaner, or do you identify with the true identity of a Boer or Boerin (female Boer)?

If your heart beats with the Boervolk's language, culture, history, religion, ethnicity and value system, then you are definitely in the right space. This piece of writing doesn't reach you by chance – there's a reason it's catching your attention.

All Glory to Our Almighty Heavenly Father!

What now?

If you identify with the Boer people's language, culture, history, beliefs and values, you are invited to contact us to Restore your Status as part of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Boervolk (ZAB) and to add yourself to the sovereign jurisdiction of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Boer-Republieke (ZABR).

What if you're abroad?
Many Boer Compatriots currently live outside South Africa. It does not deprive you of your identity. Contact the ZABR administration for information on how to get involved as an international compatriot.

"Let us be a people to our Almighty Heavenly Father, as we have promised Him."

The ZABR is a cultural administrative body and its initiatives are focused on the preservation of Boer heritage, in accordance with South African laws.