San peoples
Oldest surviving hunter-gatherer cultures of southern Africa.
The San peoples, also known as Bushmen, are the members of indigenous hunter-gatherer cultures of southern Africa and the oldest surviving cultures of the region. Their recent ancestral territories span Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and South Africa.
- also_known_as
- Bushmen, Basarwa, Sarwa
- language_families
- Khoe, Tuu, Kxʼa
- preferred_self_reference
- individual nation names (e.g., ǃkung, Haiǁom)
Lore & Background
The San traditionally lived as hunter-gatherers, speaking non-Bantu languages with click consonants. They are defined as a people only in contrast to neighboring pastoralists such as the Khoekhoe and descendants of more recent waves of immigration such as the Bantu, Europeans, and South Asians. Their languages belong to three distinct families: Khoe, Tuu, and Kxʼa. The San have no collective word for themselves in their own languages; both 'Bushmen' and 'San' are exonyms. 'San' comes from a derogatory Khoekhoe word meaning 'picking up from the ground' and was adopted by Western anthropologists in the 1970s.
Reader's Guide
Their traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle and click-consonant languages distinguish them from neighboring pastoralist and agricultural groups. The term 'San' remains standard in English-language ethnographic literature and is used officially in South Africa's national coat-of-arms, though it is perceived as pejorative in parts of the central Kalahari. In Botswana, the collective term 'Basarwa' is used. The San have been displaced and marginalized over centuries, particularly during European colonization, and today their populations are concentrated in Botswana and Namibia. Their legacy includes a rich tradition of cave paintings across southern Africa and a continued struggle for recognition and land rights.
Did You Know?
- The San have no collective word for themselves in their own languages; both 'Bushmen' and 'San' are exonyms.
- The term 'San' comes from a derogatory Khoekhoe word meaning 'picking up from the ground'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the San peoples?
The San peoples are indigenous hunter-gatherer communities of southern Africa, widely regarded as the oldest continuously surviving cultural groups in that region. They are sometimes called Bushmen, Basarwa, or Sarwa, though many prefer to be identified by their specific nation names such as ǃkung or Haiǁom.
What languages do the San peoples speak?
The San peoples are associated with three distinct language families: Khoe, Tuu, and Kxʼa. This linguistic diversity reflects the many separate nations and communities that make up the broader San cultural group.
What are the San peoples also known as?
Beyond the term "San," these groups are commonly called Bushmen, Basarwa, or Sarwa in various contexts. However, many members prefer to be identified by the names of their own distinct nations, like ǃkung or Haiǁom, rather than a broad collective label.
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