The food that they gather contributes more than two-thirds of a tribe’s calories.Īnd so their opinions on nourishment, movements, and social decisions have long been well-regarded and respected. They are the gatherers foraging for food in the sparse Kalahari landscapes. Often decorating their extremities and hair with ostrich eggshell trinkets, women are significant in San culture. ![]() ![]() And the hunters cheerfully accept the practice. So they undermine hunters’ kills to avoid inflated senses of self-worth. The San believe that if a man has many successful hunts, he may start to think that he is of great importance. Then there’s the peculiar practice of insulting a hunter’s kill. And while each gender has its determined role, men and women both contribute to the tribe’s food and general wellbeing. As an antidote, they have adopted various practices.įor starters, men and women see one another as equals in their culture. They believe that inequality can only lead to problems (which modern society can attest to). It is a traditional San conviction that no individuals should have elevated social status. San tribes: social structure and gender roles And different San groups speak different variations thereof. The San predominantly speak languages in the ‘Khoe family’, which includes several languages and many dialects. Instead, the only relation is their audible similarities and geographic crossover. These languages are mostly endemic to Southern Africa but are not considered a language family. The term Khoisan describes a group of language families and isolated languages that make use of characteristic ‘ click consonants’. Their eggshell jewelry is also well known, and they were musically inclined, with clapping and singing forming part of their dance rituals. You can still see their stunning, ancient rock art across Southern Africa, particularly in the Tsodilo Hills. They lived in small, nomadic groups of around 25 individuals, finding shelter under rocky outcrops and in caves, or erecting nonpermanent dwellings.Īnd as they roamed, hunted, and gathered, they enjoyed a rich culture of gift-giving, dancing, music, and art. Studies have found that San hunter-gatherers worked for only 12 to 19 hours per week less than half of the average workweek in most modern societies. Through their mastery of the Kalahari, they became efficient at the tasks necessary to survive and thrive. They developed hunting methods and techniques, as well as a keen eye for tracking. They established which plants were edible, which were poisonous, and which had medicinal properties. Over millennia, they learned to work with their environment and reap what it has to offer. In order to successfully live in the harsh conditions of the Kalahari, the San people had to become familiar with their surroundings. San Bushmen Culture and Lifestyle – Kalahari Bushmen Facts These include !Kung, Tuu, Tshu-Khwe, Khwe, and others. However, most San people prefer to go by their individual group names. Yet, unfortunately, these two names were the ones that stuck. Much like ‘bosjesman’, the name ‘Saan’ was a derogatory term. It’s rooted in the term ‘saa’, meaning to pick things up from the ground. ![]() They referred to bushmen as ‘Saan’ which literally means ‘foragers’. The Khoikhoi were nomadic cattle herders who coexisted with the San. The name ‘San’ on the other hand, comes from a different group of indigenous Southern Africans The Khoikhoi. It’s the English translation of the Dutch term ‘ bosjesman’, which the settlers crudely bestowed upon the San when the two groups encountered one another. The name ‘bushmen’ stems from the Dutch Colonists who settled in the region in the 17th century. It’s a semi-arid savannah that occupies a large portion of Botswana, as well as smaller sections of Namibia and South Africa. The Bushmen of the Kalahariįor around 20 000 years, the home turf of the San people has been the Kalahari Desert. So let’s dive in, and discover the captivating tales of the San. And the story of their existence raises questions of human progress and the woes of modern society. They’re a people with a fascinating and tragic history. This makes them one of the oldest people on Earth - which is a testament to their unique way of life and its long-lived success.Īlso known as the Bushmen of the Kalahari, they are hunters and gatherers of tremendous skill, with complex social structures and enviable lifestyles. San is the collective term used to describe an ancient, indigenous collection of Southern African hunter-gatherers.Ĭomprised of several sub-groups, the San people have roamed the African continent as a distinct ethnic group for around 150 000 years.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |