New meanings of “home” in South Africa

Abstract

The search for a place we can call “home” and where we feel we can truly belong is a common human experience. This article explores the different meanings attached to the concept of home and how these influence our experience of belonging. These will be discussed in the context of individual as well as family and cultural experiences, with special emphasis on the contributions of family therapy towards this understanding. The article will also explore how finding a “home” is particularly relevant in present-day post-apartheid South African society. In conclusion it will be argued that “home” may be a fluid concept which requires mobility and flexibility in order to accommodate the complexities of a postmodern world.