Wednesday 25 July 2007

The San-Bushmen of the Kalahari

Some scientists are calling the San-Bushmen of the Kalahari the "Genetic Adam". This means that the San could be the tribe, from which all humans on earth could trace their genetic heritage. There is, so far, no proof for this theory. However, we have genetic evidence which dates back for more than 25.000 years.

Being the "Genetic Adam" or not, the San-Bushmen are considered the oldest culture in the world. They were first modern human beings in southern Africa. We have archaeological finds, dating back 25.000 years. Tools from the Stone-Age and rock paintings in the caves of the Tsodilo-Hills in the eastern Kalahari.

The San-Bushmen always have been hunter-gatherers and they are until today. They are living on roots and plants and occasionally they are hunting some wildlife. However, more than 80 % of their diet is vegetarian. They are constantly moving around, searching for food and water. During the night they are building shelters out of branches and grass.

Today the governments of the countries sharing the Kalahari ,are counting all in all about 82.000 bushmen. Although, this figure includes all groups and tribes. The estimation for the original San is somewhere at 3000. These are living in the traditional groups of 10 - 15 people. Each member of the group is specialized in a certain task and has the sole responsibility.

In 1980 the San-Bushmen reached some quick international fame, when one of the tribe named N!xau, was the lead actor in the movie "The Gods must be crazy". A comedy, where an empty Coke-bottle creates havoc amongst the San, and N!xau gets the task to bring it back into modern civilization.

Unfortunately today, there is some truth behind the comedy. After decades of dislocation by the governments, for tourism and diamond mining, these ancient people are threatened by our modern world and they are at the brink of extinction. We should do our utmost, to guarantee the survival of the ancestors of mankind.



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