A detailed review of the historical background of the Afrikaner language and people, from the establishment of supply stations by the Dutch East India Company in the Cape Peninsula, to the colonial activities of Dutch immigrants and their descendants in South Africa, as well as the formation and development of the Afrikaner language. The article points out that initially, as colonizers, the Afrikaans plundered the land and resources of the indigenous people of South Africa, which led to the establishment of the apartheid system. After the abolition of apartheid in 1994, Afrikaans faced the challenge of redefining their identity. Some African elites choose to leave South Africa, while others stay behind to work towards racial reconciliation. Scholars have explored the identity issues of Afrikaners in the post apartheid era from different perspectives, including beliefs, language, women's status, and how to break free from stereotypes. The article explores how writers reconstruct the local identity cognition of Afrikaner people and strive to change negative impressions from the outside world by analyzing literary works in the Afrikaner language in the 21st century. The author believes that the efforts of Afrikaner language writers in reconstructing local identity images should be viewed from a developmental perspective, while recognizing that each ethnic group may avoid some unfavorable factors while constructing their own historical culture and identity.

1、 The indigenous identity of the Afrikaner people in the historical process

In depth exploration of the reconstruction of local identity by Afrikaners in 21st century literature. Since the invasion of South Africa by British colonizers in 1795, the Afrikaner people's sense of local identity in South Africa has gradually strengthened. The long-term residence of descendants of Dutch colonizers in South Africa made them see themselves as the masters of this land. The migration of Afrikaner people and the establishment of nationalist organizations in the 19th century further promoted the formation of Afrikaner cultural identity. The Afrikaner language literature of the 21st century, such as Daniel Slee's "1795" and William Anke's "Bass: A Border Novel," continues to explore historical events, emphasizing the opposition between Afrikaners and British colonizers, in order to construct Afrikaner's sense of local identity. These works recreate the history of Africa through individual stories and shape national pride. At the same time, the Second Anglo Boer War and the standardization and formalization of the Afrikaner language played a crucial role in the construction of Afrikaner identity. The official language status of the Afrikaner language provides a foundation for the formation of a common language and cultural consensus among the Afrikaner community. In reshaping their self-image in the 21st century, Afrikaner writers use these historical cornerstones to emphasize the close connection between Afrikaners and the land of South Africa.

2、 The Progression of Racial Segregation and the Construction of Indigenous African Identity

Explored how Afrikaners reconstructed their local identity through literature during the period of racial segregation. In 1948, the African National Party implemented a policy of racial segregation in South Africa. After South Africa withdrew from the Commonwealth in 1961, this policy continued to exist and was internationally condemned. In 1994, the apartheid system ended and South Africa achieved racial reconciliation. In this context, the elite of the African continent avoided the negative history of the apartheid era through literature and instead emphasized the impact of the British colonial period on the lives of the African people, shaping their image as victims of apartheid.

3、 Metaphysical cognitive construction of the indigenous identity of the Afrikaner people

The 21st century Afrikaner language literature has deepened the understanding of the local identity of the Afrikaner people through poetry creation. In the 1960s, poetry began to focus on personal themes and social reality. In the 21st century, poetry became more diverse in content and form, and writers used metaphysical methods to present the local identity of Afrikaners. Gilbert Gibson's poem "Freedom -" expresses concern and hope for South Africa through the theme of freedom, while Loftus Maries' poetry collection "Jane, Pat, Cus, and Jacob" uses common names to metaphorically refer to daily life events and connect individuals with social events. Maries uses "coffee" and "sugar cubes" to represent non-human and immigrant populations in "Levkus", showcasing the integration of Afrikaans and South Africa. Marise Joubert's poetry collection "Groundwater" evokes attachment and local identity recognition towards South Africa through the imagery of "water". African language writers use diverse construction methods to guide people to identify with the local identity of the African people from a metaphysical perspective, avoiding and downplaying history that is not conducive to identity construction. They have successfully achieved the reconstruction of the local identity of the African people, which has positive significance for racial reconciliation and harmonious coexistence in South Africa.