South Africa in Mexico

Boer family traveling by covered wagon circa 1900.

The Boer Colony of Chihuahua

In order to understand how a colony of South Africans came to establish themselves in northern Mexico, you have to begin with the context. The Second Anglo-Boer War fought between 1899-1902 is what set this story in motion. The war pitted the opponents of the British Empire and the Boer Republics against each other.

Boer soldiers during the war.

The Boers were the descendents of European settlers to South Africa principally from Holland but also France and Germany. These people speak a language known as Afrikaans and Boer translates to “farmer” in their language.

Map of the location of the Boer Republics.

The discovery of diamond and gold deposits within the zone of Boer Republics was the catalyst that spurred this armed conflict into reality.

Devastation for Boer Republics was the outcome of this war with scorched earth tactics, banishment, and concentration camps by the British forces.

Benjamin J. Viljoen (1868-1917)

South African Diaspora

". . if my country was lost to me I wished to choose a flag to live under for myself . . . I did not only feel, but I was a perfect stranger in my own country. My home destroyed; my money confiscated; no hope held out that any restitution would ever be made. Where I used to be somebody, I was now not only nobody, but I was an intruder, an unwelcome guest. . ."

- General Ben Viljoen

Unwilling or unable to return to their lands, numerous Boers opted for life abroad in places ranging from East Africa, Argentina, and Mexico. Viljoen led the efforts to settle in North America, meeting with President Teddy Roosevelt, of Dutch heritage himself and sympathetic to the Boer cause.

Roosevelt arranged for the Boer delegation to engage in discussion with the Mexican president at the time, Porfirio Diaz, to settle and develop the sparsely populated north of Mexico, Chihuahua.

Financing the Migration

Boer War Circus Program.

The so-called Boer War Circus was the highlight of the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. It was a large-scale re-enactment of the Battle of Colenso with upwards of 600 veterans of the war participating.

This entertainment strategy for the Boers was developed to make money to finance the purchase of lands in Mexico for a colony. Additionally, Viljoen also wrote realistic war memoirs for income which became popular at the time to underwrite the costs of land purchase

Original label from canned peaches produced by Hacienda Humboldt, named after the German explorer.

Location of the Boer Colony: Hacienda Humboldt, Jumiles Municipality, Chihuahua, Mexico

 

"Boer Colony in Mexico Is in a Most Flourishing Condition - The Boer colony started by Generals Snyman and Ben Viljoen, who fought gallantly against the British in South Africa, is reported to be in a most flourishing condition. The Mexican government granted the Boer soldiers a large tract of land near Ortiz, in the state of Chihuahua, and they at once began the work of colonization.

The tract consists of 87,000 acres of land abundantly watered and well suited for general agriculture and grazing purposes. The colony at present numbers in the neighborhood of 150 people and this year they have under cultivation 3,300 acres, mostly in grain. Plans have now been perfected for bringing a large number of families from South Africa, many of whom will be there before the time comes to put in the crops next Spring.

It is understood to be the purpose of the colonists to make experiments in both cotton and tobacco, for which these lands are well adapted. Governor Creel, of Chihuahua, is taking an active interest in the colony. “

-The Pittsburgh Press, Sunday Morning, September 3, 1905.

A Boer in the Mexican Revolution

Mexican Revolutionary Francisco Madero and Ben Viljoen walking the streets of El Paso, Texas.

The war-seasoned Viljoen served as chief of staff and military advisor to the revolutionary leader Francisco Madero. However, Ben was distrusted as a foreigner among revolutionary military leadership, notably Pancho Villa. One of his notable duties was serving as the Maderista Government's representative to the Yaquis.

Ruins of an aqueduct at the location of the ex Hacienda Humboldt in Chihuahua.

The End of the Colony

The disintegration of the South African colony commenced when it was attacked and set fire in 1913 during the Mexican Revolution. Many colonists left for the safety of another colony in the Mesilla Valley of New Mexico including Viljoen and others dispersed to other economic opportunities.

Mesilla Valley of New Mexico where many of the Boers ended up.

 

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