Khoikhoi and San People Practice Flashcards

The Khoikhoi: The Herders of Southern Africa

• Original Inhabitants: The San were not the only people in Southern Africa before the arrival of settlers; the Khoikhoi also inhabited the region.
• Meaning of the Name: The name "Khoikhoi" translates to "people of people" or "real people."
• Economic Lifestyle: While the Khoikhoi participated in hunting and gathering (similar to the San), they were primarily distinguished by their herding of livestock.
• Livestock as Wealth: Cattle were the primary symbol of wealth and status. Cattle were highly prized and were generally only slaughtered for special celebrations.
• The Utility of Animals:     * Oxen: Used to carry heavy loads and as animals for riding.     * Goats and Sheep: These were slaughtered more frequently for their meat and fat. They also provided the tribe with milk.
• Nomadic Movement: The Khoikhoi were nomadic, moving from place to place once the grazing land in a specific area was exhausted. This ensured their livestock always had access to food and that gathered resources were replenished.

Khoikhoi Community Structure and Hierarchy

• Village Size: Each village consisted of approximately $100$ people.
• Social Hierarchy: Unlike the San, the Khoikhoi had a clear social structure based on cattle ownership. Roles included:     * Chief: The wealthiest person who owned the most cattle. He was responsible for making decisions and maintaining harmony within the community.     * Headman: A leadership position below the chief.     * Elders: Respected older members of the tribe.     * Servants: Individuals lower in the social order.     * Other Members: Positions were determined by the number of cattle owned.
• Succession: The role of the chief was hereditary, passing to the eldest son upon the chief's death. Consequently, all chiefs originated from the same family line.
• Community Care and Welfare: The Khoikhoi looked after one another. After a successful hunt or celebration, meat was shared with the entire community. However, evidence of the hierarchy remained as the best pieces of meat were reserved for the wealthiest members.
• Gaining Importance: Wealthier members could increase their social standing by donating cattle for slaughter during significant community events such as weddings and funerals.

Khoikhoi Craftsmanship and Technology

• Weaponry: The Khoikhoi were highly skilled at making weapons. They produced spears with points made of hardened iron, which they acquired through trade with neighboring tribes or European settlers.
• Shelter (The Dome Structure): Because they were nomadic, their homes had to be portable and easy to assemble/disassemble.     * Construction: They used young saplings to create a basic dome frame.     * Covering: The frame was covered with woven reed mats.     * Climatic Adaptation: These mats provided shade and allowed airflow during hot weather. When it rained, the reeds would swell, making the structure waterproof.     * Insulation: In cold weather, sheep and goat skins were placed against the walls to provide extra insulation, similar to modern synthetic insulation.
• Craft Industries:     * Leather Work: They created clothing, bags, and blankets from animal skins.     * Pottery: They made pottery with pointed bases and handles, designed specifically to be strapped to the backs of oxen or to their shelters for transport.     * Mat-making: Reeds were used extensively for making both the mats for house coverings and sleeping mats.

The Art of the San People

• Definition of Rock Art: A term describing paintings or engravings found on rocks or inside caves. Thousands of these exist across Southern Africa.
• Insight into Life: These paintings provide evidence and insight into the daily lives, beliefs, and history of the San.
• Tools for Creation:     * Brushes: Made from animal hair or bird feathers.     * Engraving Tools: Hard, sharp objects such as spears or sharp stones were used to carve into rock.
• Pigments and Colors:     * Red, Brown, and Yellow: Derived from natural pigments.     * White: Sourced from white clay or bird droppings.     * Black: Produced from manganese minerals and charcoal.     * Excluded Colors: Blue and green were never used in San rock art.     * Binding Agent: The blood of an eland (a large antelope) was often mixed with these pigments.
• Subjects of Art: Paintings regularly depicted human figures (often holding long sticks), animals in motion (galloping or leaping), and general scenes of daily life. Engravings more commonly featured animals than humans.

The Linton Rock Art Panel

• Significance: The human figures at the center of the South African Coat of Arms are derived from a specific San rock art painting known as the Linton Panel.
• Origin: This panel was a section of rock removed from the Linton farm in the Eastern Cape.
• Current Location: It is currently housed in the South African Museum in Cape Town.
• Conservation: The panel was moved to the museum to protect it from environmental damage (sun, wind, and rain) and potential human vandalism.

San Community and Social Beliefs

• Social Groupings: The San lived in small bands consisting of $3 \text{ to } 4$ families, totaling between $15 \text{ and } 40$ people.
• Territory: The specific territory belonging to a band is called the "n!ore."
• Egalitarianism: The San society was non-hierarchical. Everything came from nature, and resources were shared equally. No one could become richer or more powerful than others.
• Leadership: There were no chiefs or leaders. All major decisions were made collectively by the group or band, and no individual received special treatment.
• Inter-Band Cooperation: Different bands would occasionally meet. During times of drought, these networks would merge to share available food and water resources.

San Marriage and Family Customs

• Marriage Structure: Men were permitted to have more than one wife, though this was rare in practice.
• Arranged Marriage: The first marriage for a young person was typically arranged by the parents.
• Typical Ages: At the time of the first marriage, the bridegroom was usually about $15 \text{ years old}$ and the bride was about $9 \text{ years old}$.
• Courtship and Proof of Worth: During courtship, the young man brought gifts to his future in-laws to prove his proficiency as a hunter and his ability to support a wife.
• The Wedding Day:     * The groom was required to bring an animal he had killed to the bride's parents.     * The bride's mother decorated the bride's face using animal fat mixed with red ochre.     * There was no large, formal ceremony; the marriage was considered official once the couple entered and shared the same shelter.
• Bride Service: After marriage, the husband performed "bride service." He joined the bride's band and hunted, prepared skins, and assisted around the home for his in-laws. This service typically lasted until the couple had three children.

San Ethnobotany and Traditional Medicine

• Environmental Knowledge: The San possessed an exhaustive understanding of plants in their environment and used them for food, healing wounds, and treating illnesses.
• Gender Roles in Gathering: San women were responsible for going out in groups to collect plants for both food and medicine.
• Specific Medicinal Plants:     * Hoodia: A bitter-tasting plant. When eaten, it suppresses hunger and thirst. San hunters chewed this during long hunting trips.     * Buchu: Used specifically to cure stomach aches.     * Bushman's Poison: A plant with a milky juice used by hunters to poison the tips of their arrows.     * Sickle Bush:         * Roots: Chewed and smeared onto snake bite wounds to treat them.         * Bark: Used to treat headaches and toothaches.

San Clothing and Personal Adornment

• Primary Material: Animal skins were the main material used for all clothing items.
• Men's Attire:     * A triangular loin cloth made from animal skin.     * In cool weather, a shawl of animal skin was worn over the shoulders.
• Women's Attire:     * An apron made from animal skin.     * Older women sometimes wore a shawl.     * Women's clothing was often highly decorated.
• Children's Attire: Small versions of either the apron or the loin cloth.
• Decoration and Jewelry:     * Materials used for decoration included ostrich eggshell beads, pieces of bone, and shells.     * Hair Bands: Decorative beads were strung onto sinew (animal tendon) and worn as hair bands.