The south african buddhist community currently makes up the largest community in Africa. This community has been gaining ground since the 1990s thanks to the settlement of main international organizations in the country willing to spend buddhism on the continent.
A study led in the late 1990s and revealed in 2002 showed that South Africa encounters more than 6000 people practising a branch of buddhism. These people represent about 0.01% of the whole population of the country.
In fact, about half of the practitioners are converts, which is an encouraging sign for the development of the local buddhist community. The other half is made up with people from Asian origins. Since the middle of the 1980s, there have also been different district created in the country.
The main tendencies of buddhism are settled in South Africa. The Nichiren school, which has a strong influence in Africa, is represented with the Soka Gakkai International. The organisation opened a delegation in Johannesburg. But the main other schools are also present : zen, theravada or tibetan schools.
The Fo Guang Shan Order, originally located in Taiwan, built in Bronkhorstspruit near Pretoria the largest temple and seminary of the African continent : the Nan Hua Temple.
Nan Hua Temple
One of the leaders of the buddhist community in South Africa is Rob Naim, who follows the tibetan buddhism in the Karma Kagyu lineage. He is currently responsible of 11 centers in the country and teaches in South Africa buit also in Europe.
Many classes and events are organized in the country. You can find the different places to practice buddhism on the link given with the article.
