01/22/2024
The Khoisan (the oldest people on the planet)
Who are the Khoisan?
The Khoisan, also known as the Khoi-San, are an ethnic group found in southern Africa, particularly in the region spanning South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Angola and Zimbabwe. Long before the arrival of the BantΓΌ, the Khoisan are considered to be the first inhabitants of these lands. They are considered one of the oldest ethnic groups in the region, with a history and culture that spans thousands of years.
The term "ππ‘π¨π’π¬ππ§" is a generic term used to refer to two distinct linguistic and genetic groups:
ππ‘π¨π’: The Khoi people, also known as Khoikhoi or Khoekhoe, are traditionally shepherds and have always kept cattle herding as one of the greatest sources of survival. They are known for their click consonant languages, which have unique click sounds as part of their speech. The Khoi people were historically scattered across the western and southern parts of Southern Africa.
πππ§: The San people, also known as Bushmen, are hunter-gatherers known for their deep knowledge of the environment and traditional hunting techniques. They have a diverse range of languages, many of which also feature click sounds. The San people historically inhabited a larger area across southern Africa, including the Kalahari Desert.
Anatomy
Physically, the Khoisan are, on average, shorter and more slender than other African peoples. In addition, they have a yellowish skin color and epicanthal creases in their eyes, like the Chinese and other peoples of the Far East. Some of these characteristics are now common to other South African ethnic groups, being evident for example in Nelson Mandela.
Another physical characteristic of the Khoisan is women's steatopygia (great later development of the buttocks), which led to a woman being taken to Europe in the 19th century and used for display at fairs, the famous Venus Hottentot.
The Khoisan have the highest degree of mitochondrial DNA diversity of any human population, indicating that they are one of the oldest human communities. Their Y chromosome also suggests that, from an evolutionary point of view, the Khoisan are very close to the "root" of the human species.
Today, there is a significant San population in Namibia, where their language has official status, being used in teaching up to university level. Smaller communities exist in Botswana and southern Angola.
Efforts are being made to preserve the unique languages, cultures and heritage of the Khoisan people, as they are an important part of Africa's rich cultural diversity and contribute to the continent's history and identity. However, like many Indigenous communities around the world, they continue to face issues related to land rights, cultural preservation and social integration.
There is a great need to increasingly include these San communities in social life and thus preserve this historic lineage of humanity.
