African Heritage Day: Khomani San People – Unique Culture That Has Stood Test of Time
African Heritage Day: Khomani San People – Unique Culture That Has Stood Test of Time
Sputnik Africa
African World Heritage Day is celebrated on 5 May. It was proclaimed by UNESCO General Conference in 2015. It is a day to reflect on Africa’s rich history and culture and to appreciate its contribution to world civilization.
It is a day to reflect on Africa’s rich history and culture, and to appreciate its contribution to world civilization.Africa is home to a diverse range of cultures, languages, religions, traditions, and customs. It has a rich history that spans thousands of years. From Ancient Egypt to the great empires of East and West Africa, the continent has contributed immensely to world history and civilization.The African continent is also home to some of the world's most unique natural wonders. From the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Okavango Delta in Botswana, Africa has some of the most diverse wildlife habitats in the world.Although Africa is underrepresented on the World Heritage List, where African properties account for about 12% of all inscribed sites worldwide, a significantly high percentage, at least 39%, of these properties are on the World Heritage in Danger List.To support African heritage, UNESCO proclaimed May 5 as a special day "to increase global awareness of African heritage, with a special focus on youth, and to mobilise enhanced cooperation for its safeguarding on the local, regional and global level."On this occasion, Sputnik had the pleasure of interviewing Dirk Pienaar, a tourism and conservation manager for a local community organization in South Africa called the Khomani San Community Property Association (CPA).Pienaar hails from the Kalahari and belongs to the the Khomani San community, which is part of the broader Southern African San group – one of the world's most ancient and unique cultures, the "first people of southern Africa." They are known for their so-called "clicking languages," such as N|u and Khoekhoegowab.The Khomani San are one of the last indigenous communities in South Africa. With a total population of 1,096, they have a rich history that spans thousands of years and have developed unique cultural practices and traditions that are unlike any other in the world.Their ability to adapt to their environment and develop subsistence strategies that allow them to survive in one of the harshest environments on Earth is truly remarkable. Their culture is also characterized by their unique language, one of many in the Khoisan family.The Khomani Cultural Landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in South Africa on the border with Botswana and Namibia in the northern part of the country. It is an area that has been inhabited by the Khomani San people for thousands of years.The conservation manager suggested that the uniqueness of the Khomani Cultural Landscape is based more on the ethnic or technical knowledge of the San people and their way of life, which was completely nomadic in the past.Speaking of the role that the Khomani San CPA plays in the promotion and conservation of local culture, Pienaar said that the organization was developed through a land claim process that the Khomani people started in South Africa in the early 1930s.Besides being the governing body of the properties of the Khomani community, the organization eventually started getting involved in the tourist attraction industry over the years.Pienaar also commented on the impact of European colonial expansion on the indigenous people of South Africa, including the Khomani community.According to Pienaar, the indigenous Khomani people were also trapped between the Germans on the Namibian side and the British on the South African side. As a result, "the Bushmen were caught in between, not knowing what was happening, and most of the Bushmen lost their lives."On the issue of nature conservation in the Bushmen culture, the South African cultural activist said that the traditional approach to nature in their culture involves respecting animals by making them aware of your presence and correctly reading their behavior. Looking animals in the eye is a sign of respect and helps to communicate intentions, preventing potential attacks. This approach differs from Western formal conservation, which aims to keep animals unaware of the human presence.Pienaar believes it is crucial to educate African youth about their cultural heritage and promote the preservation of their traditions and values to prevent them from being absorbed into a Western lifestyle, which can lead to the loss of valuable skills and the destruction of their cultural heritage.By preserving their culture, they pass on their values to their children, ensuring a cycle of balance and harmony between people and nature. According to him, such an approach can have a positive impact on natural resources and support population growth.
african heritage day, khomani san people, unique culture that stood test of time, the khomani san community, world's most ancient and unique cultures, first people of southern africa, indigenous communities in south africa, unesco,
african heritage day, khomani san people, unique culture that stood test of time, the khomani san community, world's most ancient and unique cultures, first people of southern africa, indigenous communities in south africa, unesco,
African Heritage Day: Khomani San People – Unique Culture That Has Stood Test of Time
African World Heritage Day is celebrated on May 5 every year. It was proclaimed by the 38th session of the General Conference of UNESCO in November 2015. The day is an opportunity for people around the world, and particularly Africans, to celebrate the continent’s unique cultural and natural heritage.
It is a day to reflect on Africa’s rich history and culture, and to appreciate its contribution to world civilization.
Africa is home to a diverse range of cultures, languages, religions, traditions, and customs. It has a rich history that spans thousands of years. From Ancient Egypt to the great empires of East and West Africa, the continent has contributed immensely to world history and civilization.
The African continent is also home to some of the world's most unique natural wonders. From the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Okavango Delta in Botswana, Africa has some of the most diverse wildlife habitats in the world.
Although Africa is underrepresented on the World Heritage List, where African properties account for about 12% of all inscribed sites worldwide, a significantly high percentage, at least 39%, of these properties are on the World Heritage in Danger List.
To support African heritage, UNESCO proclaimed May 5 as a special day "to increase global awareness of African heritage, with a special focus on youth, and to mobilise enhanced cooperation for its safeguarding on the local, regional and global level."
On this occasion, Sputnik had the pleasure of interviewingDirk Pienaar, a tourism and conservation manager for a local community organization in South Africa called the Khomani San Community Property Association (CPA).
Pienaar hails from the Kalahari and belongs to the the Khomani San community, which is part of the broader Southern African San group – one of the world's most ancient and unique cultures, the "first people of southern Africa." They are known for their so-called "clicking languages," such as N|u and Khoekhoegowab.
Dirk Pienaar, a tourism and conservation manager for a local community organization in South Africa called the Khomani San Community Property Association (CPA)
Dirk Pienaar, a tourism and conservation manager for a local community organization in South Africa called the Khomani San Community Property Association (CPA)
The Khomani San are one of the last indigenous communities in South Africa. With a total population of 1,096, they have a rich history that spans thousands of years and have developed unique cultural practices and traditions that are unlike any other in the world.
Their ability to adapt to their environment and develop subsistence strategies that allow them to survive in one of the harshest environments on Earth is truly remarkable. Their culture is also characterized by their unique language, one of many in the Khoisan family.
The Khomani Cultural Landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in South Africa on the border with Botswana and Namibia in the northern part of the country. It is an area that has been inhabited by the Khomani San people for thousands of years.
"The reason it's a cultural landscape and [why it's listed] as a cultural landscape by UNESCO is because it's a unique World Heritage site...it's completely different from any other World Heritage site," Pienaar said. "The first reason is that this World Heritage site doesn't have any real physical attributes [that are] usually needed for inscription, like an architecture or specific historical physical elements like buildings or vehicle pieces or anything that has physical evidence."
The conservation manager suggested that the uniqueness of the Khomani Cultural Landscape is based more on the ethnic or technical knowledge of the San people and their way of life, which was completely nomadic in the past.
"And part of that nomadism was a sense of leaving no trace. The only trace you really leave is your footsteps. And that's still eminent within the Kalahari Sans frontier, because there are no physical buildings that were erected, everything was temporary, and it was natural materials that were used," he explained.
Speaking of the role that the Khomani San CPA plays in the promotion and conservation of local culture, Pienaar said that the organization was developed through a land claim process that the Khomani people started in South Africa in the early 1930s.
Besides being the governing body of the properties of the Khomani community, the organization eventually started getting involved in the tourist attraction industry over the years.
Pienaar also commented on the impact of European colonial expansion on the indigenous people of South Africa, including the Khomani community.
"One of the main events that happened in the Kalahari during the [late] 1800s. This was the invasion of the Germans from the Namibian side. This is when they started the Nama-German brutal war in Namibia and slowly moved into the South African interior," he stated.
According to Pienaar, the indigenous Khomani people were also trapped between the Germans on the Namibian side and the British on the South African side. As a result, "the Bushmen were caught in between, not knowing what was happening, and most of the Bushmen lost their lives."
On the issue of nature conservation in the Bushmen culture, the South African cultural activist said that the traditional approach to nature in their culture involves respecting animals by making them aware of your presence and correctly reading their behavior.
Looking animals in the eye is a sign of respect and helps to communicate intentions, preventing potential attacks. This approach differs from Western formal conservation, which aims to keep animals unaware of the human presence.
"You have to look the lion in the eye, which is very different from other cultures, especially the African culture, which believes that it is disrespectful to look another person or animal in the eye. From our perspective, we believe that the eyes are the opening to your heart into your soul. So through your eyes, the animal can see what your intentions are. And they will read either fear or understanding or respect. And that's a very, very accurate way to communicate," Pienaar argued.
Pienaar believes it is crucial to educate African youth about their cultural heritage and promote the preservation of their traditions and values to prevent them from being absorbed into a Western lifestyle, which can lead to the loss of valuable skills and the destruction of their cultural heritage.
"We need to understand the blow is going to come from us if we don't connect deeper [with nature] – understand it deeper and respect it more," he stressed.
By preserving their culture, they pass on their values to their children, ensuring a cycle of balance and harmony between people and nature. According to him, such an approach can have a positive impact on natural resources and support population growth.
"So if you preserve your own culture as a human being, your way of preservation will be instilled in your children and what you have instilled in your children will definitely be transferred to their children and their future children. So that ecological cycle of balance won't stop," Pienaar concluded.
