1918 is considered to be the beginning of sociology in South Africa, when sociology in the country was established as a separate discipline; in 1943, the first Faculty of Sociology was opened in the country. In 1996–1997, there were about 30 sociology faculties. Currently, sociology on the African continent is going through a rather difficult period. The main problem of modern African sociology, in particular, South African sociology, is that, borrowing Western and American sociological theories, African researchers insufficiently adapt them to the needs of African society, do not take into account the peculiarities of their region. Sociological research is often purely theoretical in nature. At the same time, both African sociologists and their colleagues from other countries understand the need to take into account the historical past of the continent, to focus their efforts on those topics that are closest to this particular region and relevant to it. At present there is a steadily growing interest in sociology as an interdisciplinary field of research, as well as an increase in the number of professional sociologists (working both full and part-time), as evidenced, in particular, by publications in specialized sociological journals published in South Africa, despite the reduction in the number of sociology faculties, which resulted from the unification of some universities in the country.
sociology; Republic of South Africa (South Africa); Africa; African continent; colonialism; regionalism; orientalism; neoorientalism; sociological research.