Today’s lesson on the social anthropology of Cape Town focuses on Forries Pub in Newlands, noting the behaviour of tribes within this habitat.

The results were amazingly un-extraordinary:

  • 80% male. The female tends to be an accessory to maleness, utilised for beer collection, cleavage viewing and high-pitched laughter at male jokes.
  • 90% of subjects are named Stu, Dave, Matt or Mike, although James is also common. Single syllables are preferred for ease of pronunciation and shouting at the bar.
  • 98% of subjects attended Rondebosch, Bishops, SACS and, in some cases, Wynberg. They frequently wear their scarves to identify themselves as such, especially if they are 35 or older.
  • 100% of subjects believe that rugby should remain at Newlands as the new Greenpoint stadium is “too far from Forries” and “those people don’t like rugby as much as us”.
  • Popular verbal expressions of affection include:
“Hey boytjie! We gonna klap a few beers and watch the rugger, hey?”
“Hey chick! Nice one, nice one, go on then.”
“Oh yes my son, that’s the way! 5 points!”
“Go my boy, go my boy! Oh! You beauty!”

(It is worth noting that despite the above expressions, 99% of males at Forries profess to be heterosexual.)

In conclusion, we found the sociological environment of Forries in Newlands to be exceedingly homogenous. This has created strong tribal alliances but has also led to severe inbreeding.