challenge: make French the dominant language of White South Africans

[Titus_Pullo]

How would you increase French huguenot immigration to South Africa in the 1600s that by the 19th century their population, culture and language surpasses the Dutch and the word "Voortreker" is replaced by a French equivalent? We still get something like the Boer War of otl. How would this change affect overall relations between the European colonial powers in Africa, i.e., France, UK, Germany?

[twovultures]

French-speaking Boers would not change the relationship between colonial powers.

I don't think France would be very concerned with French-speaking boers. Assuming their history goes as per OTL just with French instead of Dutch spoken, these Francophone Boers will be neither French citizens nor have any cultural/political interest in France, and religion wise would be outright hostile to Catholic France.

If French involvement in foreign affairs stays the same ITTL, their interest will still be West and Central Africa, not South Africa.

You could make a POD that has Boers who are both French-speaking and Francophilic, but then they wouldn't really be boers.

[Fearless Leader]

Originally Posted by Titus_Pullo

How would you increase French huguenot immigration to South Africa in the 1600s that by the 19th century their population, culture and language surpasses the Dutch and the word "Voortreker" is replaced by a French equivalent? We still get something like the Boer War of otl. How would this change affect overall relations between the European colonial powers in Africa, i.e., France, UK, Germany?

Here's an idea: Let's say that instead of (or perhaps in addition to) trying to found colonies in Florida, South Carolina, and South America, in the 1500's the Huguenots opt to found a colony in South Africa. Assuming enough people make the trip and enough survive, the colony could very well become a thriving one and firmly entrench French as the language of choice in South Africa.

[Nicksplace27]

have france take cape colony during the franco-dutch war

[Wendell]

Have Hugenots settle the place in droves, and then cause a conflict in North America that results in Acadians and Quebeckers fleeing in droves to "Le Cap".