San peoples

The San are people in southern Africa.

They have lived there for a very long time. They are some of the oldest cultures on Earth.

These people move to find food. They hunt and find plants to eat. They do not have chiefs. Instead, older people help make choices.

They leave art on rocks. These paintings show animals and life.

These works are very old.

Long ago, many people moved into their lands. This was very hard for the San. It changed how and where they lived.

Today, many San live in lands like Botswana. They have many different names for their groups. They are proud of who they are.

The San are people from southern Africa. They have some of the oldest cultures on Earth.

Some studies say their ancestors lived there a very long time ago.

Traditionally, the San lived as hunter-gatherers. This means they hunted animals and gathered plants for food. They were semi-nomadic. They moved from place to place to find water and food.

They did not have kings or chiefs. Instead, older people helped make choices for the group.

The San left behind beautiful art. They made paintings on rocks. These paintings show animals and daily life.

Many different groups make up the San. They have many names for their own nations. For example, some are called ǃKung or ǀXam.

Many people used the names "San" or "Bushmen" for them. Some of these names were not respectful. Today, many San prefer to use the names of their own nations. They live in places like Botswana and Namibia today.

The San are the indigenous people of southern Africa. They are known for having some of the oldest cultures on Earth.

Some scientists believe their ancestors split from other humans a very long time ago. This was perhaps 100,000 to 200,000 years ago. Today, they live in many different areas. These include Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and South Africa.

Traditionally, the San lived as hunter-gatherers. This means they moved to find food and water. They did not stay in one place for a long time. This way of life is called being semi-nomadic. They moved based on what plants were ready to eat. They also moved to follow where animals lived.

They did not have kings or chiefs to lead them. Instead, elders helped the group make important choices. They organized themselves into small hunting parties.

History shows that the San have been in this region for a very long time. About 10,000 years ago, these groups were spread across much of Africa. They lived from Tanzania all the way down to the southern coast.

In the past, they met other groups like the Bantu and the Khoekhoe. Some San people were moved away from their lands. Others joined with different groups as people moved through the area. They were also known for their connection to the land and spirits.

There are many different facts about San groups today. In 2017, Botswana had about 63,500 San people. This was 2.8% of the people in that country. In 2023, Namibia had 71,201 San people. This made them the second largest group in that area.

The San speak many different languages. These languages often use special click sounds. They belong to families like Khoe, Tuu, and Kxʼa. Many San people prefer to be called by their own nation names. These names include ǃKung, ǀXam, and Haiǁom.

Many people use names for the San that were not chosen by them. The names "San" and "Bushmen" are examples of this. "San" was originally a word used by the Khoekhoe people. Some people find these names to be disrespectful or unkind.

Because of this, many San groups have worked to use their own names. They want to be recognized for their unique identities. The San also left a beautiful legacy behind. They made many rock paintings that show animals and daily life.

These paintings help us learn about their history.

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.