Khomani-San visit the Boland
2009-12-17
Maggie Follet
THE hundred-plus locals present at the CPUT Sports Grounds in Wellington on Saturday 12 December were privileged to experience a unique event, a specially-arranged visit of a group of Khomani-San Bushmen from the Kalahari. Clad in only their traditional, scanty animal-skin garb, these feisty, indomitable little hunter-gatherers (many directly related to the famous “Kruiper” family who have featured in several documentaries, and are regarded as the last “wild Bushmen”) presented a fascinating and authentic programme which included displays of aboriginal craftwork, dancing, veld-lore, tracking and the use of indigenous medicinal plants. The remarkable cultural event (made all the more extraordinary by the green fields, and incongruous backdrop of the Limietberg Mountains), was part of a countrywide tour to raise awareness of South Africa’s rapidly-vanishing Khoi-San heritage. The national initiative coincides with a recent petition delivered by King T.E.Brown of Gauteng - via the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) - to President Jacob Zuma, to have the oppressive racial designation “Coloured” officially replaced with “Khoi-San.” A number of dignitaries, including King Brown and his wife, as well as hereditary clan leaders “Stamkoning” Gert Steenkamp (Uitenhage) and “Stam-kaptein” lKhuis! Aru Barendse of Wellington, joined locals in celebrating their roots. In a moving ceremony known as the “Xnau”, participants embraced their indigenous heritage, and, after prayers and the ritual slaughter of a goat, reclaimed their birthright as proud members of the Khoi and San nations.
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