- An Instagram reel tracing the origins of Afrikaans went viral in South Africa in October 2026
- The clip explained how Dutch evolved into Afrikaans after settlers arrived at the southern tip of Africa in 1652
- South Africans flooded the comments, pointing out that French and German influences were left out of the breakdown
Source: Getty Images
An Instagram account dedicated to teaching Afrikaans sparked a lively online conversation after posting a breakdown of how the language came to be. The reel, shared by the Instagram account @learnafrikaans11 on 19 October 2026, quickly drew thousands of South Africans into a debate about the language's true roots.
From Dutch colony to distinct language
The video traces Afrikaans back to 1652, when Dutch settlers first arrived at the southern tip of Africa. Over the centuries that followed, the spoken Dutch brought by those settlers changed dramatically. Complex grammatical structures were stripped away, including gendered nouns and layered verb conjugations, replaced by simpler, universal forms.
Vocabulary flowed in from Malay, Portuguese, English and local African languages, while features like double negatives became characteristic of the evolving tongue. Afrikaans was formally recognised as an independent language in [1925](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.za/), and today around seven million people speak it as a mother tongue, with millions more using it as a second language.
Watch the Instagram reel that sparked the debate:
Commenters say French and German were left out
While many viewers found the video educational, a notable thread in the comments centred on what was missing. Several South Africans argued that the French and German contributions to Afrikaans had been overlooked entirely.
@meyerddjm21 wrote:
"You forgot to mention the contributions of the French and Germans! Jy het vergeet om die bydraes van Frans en Duits te noem [You forgot to mention the contributions of the French and Germans]!"
@vdmerwe.t added:
"As ek reg is, Franse, Duits en Hollands is die groot invloede op Afrikaans [If I am correct, French, German and Dutch are the big influences on Afrikaans]."
Others reflected on the closeness between Afrikaans and Dutch as they are spoken today.
@viper100tornado shared:
"I'd rather say Nederland, because I met a Nederland girl, and we understand each other. I understand a little bit of Dutch writing, but Dutch people and reading, I don't understand at all."
The warmer reactions were equally plentiful.
@75gman said:
"Beslis n interesante insetsel [Definitely an interesting insert]."
@abigailbotha1919 added:
"Dit is baie interesant goed om te weet [It is very interesting, good to know]."
@karinschultzsa noted:
"Afrikaans is a beautiful language."
Other articles about Afrikaners
- A South African man living in China posted a heartfelt TikTok video arguing that a viral clip of an Afrikaner man dancing shows that South Africans of all races truly love each other, inspiring viewers across Mzansi.
- Briefly News reported that an Afrikaner woman was filmed fluently singing in isiZulu and jamming to amapiano alongside her partner at a local tavern, delighting South African viewers.
- An Afrikaans-speaking saleswoman marketing camouflage clothing for an outdoor store went viral for her distinct accent while promoting a jacket that makes wearers look like trees.
Source: Briefly News
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