‘Die donkie is ’n wonderlike ding’ : an ethnography of a farm sanctuary in Pretoria

Abstract

Donkeys and their relationship with people are often overlooked in social studies including anthropology. Yet they are vital to the survival of thousands of people across southern Africa. International trade in donkey skins have sparked intense concern among many social activists. In response to what various groups have called a ‘crisis’, several campaigns have been launched to try to protect donkeys and their well-being. This report is an ethnography of a farm sanctuary that rescues donkeys. It attempts to answer questions that revolve around my research participants’ relationships with donkeys and the beliefs that underlie their approach to animal well-being. I collected data by way of participant observation, interviews, and analysis of textual sources. I argue that the sanctuary can be understood as an attempt by the directors and manager to create a model of what they consider the ideal order of humans’ relationships with animals. Central to this argument are discussions around participants’ beliefs about veganism, animal rights, their focus on animals as individuals, and the historical context of donkeys in South Africa.