Sir Thomas More coined the word 'Utopia' from the Greek language for his 1516 book 'Utopia' (in Latin) in which he describes a fictional island society in the Atlantic Ocean.
Ever since, the word has been used to describe an imagined community or society that possesses highly desirable or nearly perfect qualities.
The founders of Orania must've had this in mind when they created their little town in the Northern Cape region of South Africa with its own flag and currency.
It looks like a beacon of hope in an otherwise very troubled nation. The world could do with many more Oranias.
I've just dusted off my old 'Afrikaans-Duitse en Duits-Afrikaanse Woordeboek' which I bought from the Callesen bookstore in Windhoek for a whole Rand 1.75 when I first arrived there in 1968.
It's still in almost mint condition as I never used it much but it will come in handy as I try to read Orania's website at www.orania.co.za.
