San peoples

The San peoples are the indigenous hunter-gatherer cultures of southern Africa. They represent some of the oldest surviving cultures on Earth. Some genetic analyses suggest their ancestors diverged from other humans between 100,000 and 200,000 years ago.

Today, their ancestral territories span several nations. These include Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and South Africa. The San are defined by their traditional lifestyle and their unique languages. These languages often feature distinct click consonants.

Traditionally, the San lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle. This means they moved seasonally within specific areas. Their movements depended on the availability of natural resources. They followed water sources, game animals, and edible plants.

They did not live in large permanent settlements. Instead, they organized themselves into small hunting parties. They did not have formal clans or chiefs. Instead, important decisions were made by elders within the group. This social structure allowed them to adapt to the environment.

San languages belong to three distinct families. These are the Khoe, Tuu, and Kx’a language families. Their territories vary across the southern African landscape. Some groups live between the Okavango River in Botswana and Etosha National Park in Namibia. Others are located in central Namibia and Botswana. Some groups extend into Zambia and Zimbabwe. The southern groups live in the central Kalahari near the Molopo River.

These groups are often discussed alongside the Khoekhoe pastoralists. Together, they are sometimes referred to using the compound term Khoisan.

History shows the San have occupied this region for millennia. About 10,000 years ago, these groups were spread from Tanzania down to Cape Agulhas. In the first millennium BCE, two main groups were prominent. The Tshua San occupied parts of Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. The Khwe San occupied territory in Botswana, Namibia, Angola, and Zambia. Over time, San groups interacted with migrating herder-farmers. This included the Bantu expansion between 2000 BCE and 1000 CE. These interactions led to some San being incorporated into other groups. Others were driven away from their ancestral lands.

Names for these people have often been chosen by outsiders. The terms "San" and "Bushmen" are exonyms, meaning they are names given by others. The word "San" comes from a Khoekhoe root meaning "picking up from the ground." This was originally a derogatory term for people without cattle.

The term "Bushmen" comes from 17th-century Dutch. Many San people consider these terms to be pejorative or disrespectful. In 2003, representatives stated they prefer to be called by their individual nation names. These include the ¡Kung, žlXam, Haiƒom, and Ncoakhoe. Using specific nation names respects their unique identities.

Modern populations of San people are recorded in several countries. In 2017, Botswana was home to approximately 63,500 San people. This represented 2.8% of the total population in Botswana. In 2023, Namibia had 71,201 San people. This made Namibia the country with the second highest proportion at 2.4%.

Despite these numbers, they remain a minority in the region. They continue to maintain their cultural heritage through various traditions. This includes a rich legacy of rock art.

These paintings depict hunting, battles, and mythological events.

Understanding the San requires looking at their connection to the landscape. They were often viewed by neighboring societies as having connections to the spirits of the land. Some sources suggest San shamans were sought for rainmaking. They would enter trances to interact with the spirit world.

This spiritual role may have influenced early regional states. Some historians link them to the foundations of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe. They also relate to the history of Great Zimbabwe and the Mutapa Empire. Their history is deeply woven into the broader history of southern Africa.