The first herders, or pastoralists, in southern Africa were the Khoikhoi. They were also called Hottentots, but called themselves the Khoikhoi, meaning “men of men” or “the real people” because they were proud of their past and culture.
The Khoikhoi were called the “Hottentots” by European settlers because the sound of their language was so different from any European language. The Europeans could not pronounce many of the words and sounds. They used a word while dancing that sounded like Hottentots and that became their name. This term is an insult today and we now use Khoikhoi.
How did they live?
The Khoikhoi kept herds of animals like goats, cattle and sheep and had to move around to find enough grazing for their animals. They moved according to the season and only stayed in one place for a few weeks. This meant that they had to be able to carry all their belongings themselves or load them onto the backs of their animals.
Houses had to very light and easy to erect and take apart. For this reason they were made of thin poles covered with reed mats. Even pots and buckets were made of wood with small handles to make them easier to tie to animals' backs. They also wore clothes made of leather, like the San.
The animals, especially cattle, were a sign of wealth and the Khoikhoi only ate cattle that had died or had been stolen from their enemies. They only killed their own animals for important occasions like funerals or weddings. The women milked the animals and gathered wild plants from the veld and the men killed game for everyday food. This means that the Khoikhoi haunted and gathered, but also herded animals.
Khoikhoi society
Khoikhoi society had rich and poor people because animals could belong to individuals. They provided food, clothes and transport and were very important. This was completely different from the San, who were all the same and shared everything. Rich Khoikhoi people would share their milk with poorer members of their group, but would still be considered more important. They would also rub animal fat over their bodies to show their wealth.
Where did they come from?
Map A: The San may have came from North and central Africa, but there is no confirmation of their routes.
(Source: Potenza, E. (1992). The Broken String: An integrated approach to southern African History. Cape Town: Maskew Miller Longman.)
It is difficult to say where the Khoikhoi came from, but they arrived in southern Africa from further north around 2 000 years ago. They brought a new way of life to this area and the San, who were hunter-gatherers didn't always understand them. This led to conflict between the two groups.
Source:
Grade 5 lesson: Early Southern African Societies: Herders in southern Africa
