Contemporary issues of ethnicity and inequality:

San perspectiveMorris, J

University of Botswana25th March 2015

jobjfmorris@gmail.com

Ethnicity and InequalityEthnicity refers to a group of people who share a common ancestry and cultural tradition, often living as a minority group in a larger society.

Ethnicity and InequalityInequality refers to the imbalances, disparities and disproportions that exist in the society. Often this imbalances lead to the marginalization and discrimination of other groups, driving them to poverty.

What’s in the name?It is by no means obvious which term should be used, “Saan (San)”, “Basarwa’’ and/or “Bushmen”. All are historically derogatory

-Saan: refers to the traditional lifestyle of the people concerned

-Saan is the noun based on the Khoekhoegowab verb saa (forage, gather, glean, collect, pick up)

-Saan is the noun literally meaning “forager, gatherer, gleaner, collector”, with the “suffix” –n that indicates the common gender plural, thus “foragers, gatherers, gleaners, collectors”.

What’s in the name?“Basarwa’’ has negative connotations.

-Coined by Tswana speakers to identify the people concerned.- Kuela Kiema (2011) (Tears for my Land)…. “Ba-sa-ruang’’. ‘‘bone ‘ba-sa-ruang’ bao’’- Meant those who do not own anything, do not rear, has no

possession.- Gradually changed and real meaning dissolved to ‘Basarwa’.

What’s in the name?“Bushman” (English) or “Boesman (Afrikaans/Dutch) is derisive/mocking/dehumanizing

-Boesman has such connotations as ‘people of animalistic behaviour/way of life’.

-Dutch identification of the ‘concerned people’ utterly mocking/abusive/demeaning/degrading

What’s in the name; the correct identity

There is a wide family of ‘Basarwa/San/Bushmen’ groups:

Naro (western Botswana)Dxana (central Botswana)Bugakhoe (north-east Botswana)Xanikhoe (north Botswana)Shua (north Botswana)Dcui (central Botswana)etc.

Seswara is neither a language nor a tribe

What’s in the name?‘Bantu’ is a family of languages and groups;SothoTswanaIsizuluKiswahiliIkalanga, etc.

But ‘San/Basarwa/Bushmen do not have a collective name

What’s in the name?But some ‘San/Basarwa/Boesman groups have used, depending on their language a collective name to refer to all.

Naro– Ncoakhoe=Red people

Dxana/Dcui—Kua=

Origin of the word ‘Khoesan’By German scientist in 1928, Prof. Leonhard Schultze

-to indicate that Bushmen and what was then referred to as “Hottentot” formed one race. -word “Khoe” (human being) represents all the “Hottentot’’ ethnicities and San represents all the Bushman ethnicities. -hence we speak of “Khoesan languages.

‘Tswanalization’-A notion of assimilation-acculturation-A tool for cultural ‘genocide’-Undermines the praise of being ‘a country of diverse cultures’.-First president’ (Seretse Khama) widely credited speech of ‘a nation without culture is a lost nation’.

…..but whose culture? Tswana culture?

‘Tswanalization’

-The use of Tswana language as the main/powerful tool of communication-Medium of instruction in Schools (primary and secondary) is in Tswana-Refusal of the inception of ‘mother tongue’-Promotion of Tswana customs and traditions as if it’s the only culture in Botswana-The notion of being a ‘proud Motswana’ (undermines existence of other cultures)---supposed to apply to all citizens.-Payment of Bogadi/dowry as if it’s the traditions of all cultures.

Tswana phrases denoting inequality

-Ka Setswana, re na le maitseo-Ka ngwao ya Setswana, re ya ipela-Pina tsa Setswana di monate-Ngwao ya Setswana e botlhokwa

Indigenous peoples: Working definitionCobo (1982) tried to define indigenous peoples as:

‘Indigenous communities, peoples and nations are those which, having a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories, consider themselves distinct from other sectors of the societies now prevailing on those territories, or parts of them. They form at present non-dominant sectors of society and are determined to preserve, develop and transmit to future generations their ancestral territories, and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as peoples, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal system’

Indigenousness-Indigenous people’s rights in Botswana are officially understood to apply to all citizens of Botswana.-any counter reaction to these ideals is being rebellious to the ideals on which Botswana nation State was founded, undermining founding fathers and the peaceful existence of the sovereign state and its purity.-Botswana has not ratified ILO Convention 169 which calls for protection of Indigenous Peoples rights by recognizing their vulnerability and inability to influence state laws, institutions policies and other legal frameworks including the Constitution.

Indigenousness-Botswana adopted an assimilative policy regime for its indigenous populations and the process of development is prescribed by the Government, limiting development of individual group identities, human rights and deliberately promoting Tswana identity and values at all levels to maintain national unity.

-The policy of mono-ethnic development which sought to assimilate non-Tswana speaking groups under the goal of nation building was effective until 1995 when ethnic minorities identities began to formally challenge the nation calling for reforms of key laws, policies and seeking to amend the Constitution of the republic.

AdvocacyBotswana Khwedom Council (Organisation)-advocate and lobby on behalf of the San-to interrogate a developmental paradigm and create a platform where San groups may have their voices heardKuru Family of Organisations-to empower the San to create meaningful and sustainable lifestyle by promoting leadership and decision making in the organisation

Part of Kuru work birthed Naro Language Project (NLP)

AdvocacyNLP is missionary funded to translate the Bible in to Naro (new testament completed, now old testament). NLP is used for;

-Naro language promotion-literacy-read and write in Naro-promote mother tongue-publications, eg, Naro dictionary, monthly newsletter, etc-carrying out Naro courses

Politics-Lack of meaningful representation-Blanket approach; potential in terrorising human rights-CKGR case: started 2004 then adjourned to 2006-While negotiations were busy, government busy relocating people in CKGR-Dxana/Dcui forced to seek for help elsewhere, hence, S.I involvement-Dxana/Dcui tortured/died/imprisoned/chased with vehicles/intimidated with riffles/houses dismantled/water source sealed (used as a weapon to force surrender)

Politics-The San defined themselves as ‘indigenous’ in purpose. They sought to re-assert their rights, using the concept of indigeneity as a means of defining themselves as a group that: ‘(1) was different from the majority population; (2) that historically had been mistreated and discriminated against; and (3) that this treatment occurred in part because of their lifestyles and distinct cultural attributes.’ (Hitchcock, et-al, 2011)-The San were making their own demands relative to what they saw as dispossession and denial of basic rights by the nation-state.-San issues politicized-San issues regarded as ‘sensitive topic’

ReferenceCobo Martinez, J. R. (1982). Study of the Problem of Discrimination Against Indigenous Peoples. New York: United Nations Economic and Social Council

Hitchcock, R. K., Sapignoli, M., & Babchuk, A. W. (2011). What about our rights? Settlements, subsistence and livelihood security among Central Kalahari San and Bakgalagadi. The internatinal of Human Rights, 62-88.