First People of SA
San and Khoikhoi: life, culture and traditions
San and Khoikhoi People
The San (Bushmen) and Khoikhoi were the first people to live in Southern Africa. The San were hunter-gatherers who lived in small groups, hunting animals and collecting wild plants. The Khoikhoi kept cattle and sheep and moved between grazing areas.
Example
San Life and Culture
• San rock art: painted on cave walls across SA (thousands of years old)
• San used bows and poison arrows for hunting
• Khoikhoi traded cattle and sheep with other groups
• Both groups had rich oral traditions (stories and songs)
• They lived in harmony with nature
Note
Remember
The San and Khoikhoi lived in Southern Africa for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. Their rock art, languages (with click sounds) and knowledge of nature are an important part of SA's heritage.
Key Vocabulary
Hunter-gathererA person who hunts animals and collects wild food
Rock artPaintings and engravings on rock surfaces
NomadicMoving from place to place to find food or grazing
HeritageCulture, traditions and knowledge passed down
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Hunter-gatherer
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