Herders Who were the Khoi-Khoi? The name Khoi-Khoi means men of men. Archaeologists think that they came to South Africa about 2 000 years ago with their herds of fat-tailed sheep. Later, they kept herds of cattle as well. It is possible that they got these after meeting black African farmers who kept cattle, but we do not know for sure. It is often difficult to find out about the lives of nomadic people, because the material remains of their lives are scattered over a wide area. Luckily, archaeologists have found layers of material remains from Khoi-Khoi groups who lived at sites in the south-western Cape. This gives us some clues about their lives.
Daily life of the Khoi-Khoi community The Khoi-Khoi people lived in small towns or villages of between 30 and 50 huts. There were usually more than 100 people in each village. Each town had a chief who was in charge. The chiefs were usually the richest people with the most livestock and they made important decisions for the group. The Khoi-Khoi were pastoralists. This means that they domesticated animals and farmed with them. They got their food from animals such as cattle, goats, sheep and poultry. The cattle were wide-horned Afrikanders. They sometimes also hunted wild animals, even predators, and gathered food from plants, but they did not farm with crops. The men hunted, using bows and arrows, spears, traps and snare pits. The sheep, goats and cattle that they owned were a sign of wealth. For this reason, they only killed their cattle and sheep when there were special feasts or celebrations, like weddings or funerals. At other times, they used the milk from their animals and ate the meat of animals that had died or that they took from their enemies.
The Khoi-Khoi were excellent stock farmers. They knew all their cattle by name and trained their oxen to carry their goods when they moved camp. They measured wealth by how many cattle and other livestock a person owned. Cattle and goats were milked. Some of the milk was stored in pots and allowed to sour to be eaten later. Milk was the most important source of nourishment for the Khoi-Khoi. When they moved around, milk was carried in bags made of ox-hide. The children and youngsters had to herd the cattle. The women were responsible for gathering food from the veld and making clay pots to store water and milk. build up their own herds. The family was at the core of the Khoi-Khoi society. When grown-up sons married, they lived with their parents to form clans. Every clan had its own chief. He was the spokesman of the group and had to settle disputes (arguments). Poor people often worked for the chief or other rich people. They were paid in livestock and in this way they could slowly A number of clans came together and formed tribes. A tribe was ruled by a headman. The headman s son would later become the new headman. A council helped the headman to sort out problems in the tribe. Chiefs from the different clans formed the council. There were different tribes, each with its own headman. Sometimes these tribes waged war against each other over grazing, water, stock theft, murder or family disputes. Sometimes when Khoi-Khoi groups clashed, they stole each other s sheep and cattle. Those who lost their animals then became hunter-gatherers for a while until they could get their animals back.
Sometimes they fought with the San who hid in the mountains, and at other times the San worked for them as shepherds or hunters. In this way, some groups became very large and rich for a while, and others became poor. The Khoi-Khoi traded with other Khoi groups, the San and the early black farmers. The Khoi-Khoi bartered livestock for the black farmers iron and copper. Things the Khoi-Khoi made when the group moved. The Khoi-Khoi used things that suited their nomadic lifestyle. The clay pots used by the Khoi-Khoi also suited their nomadic life. These pots had two special handles so that they could be tied onto the back of the cattle Shelters The huts were made from wooden poles and reed mats. They were easy to take down and rebuild in a new place. If someone died or there wasn t enough grazing for their livestock, they moved on to a new place. They were nomads, because they moved with their livestock to find grazing. They packed up their huts and their few possessions and loaded them onto oxen which carried them. Khoi-Khoi homes were made from branches covered with reed mats. Women made the mats and men tied the
mats to the framework. When the group moved with their herds, the mats could be rolled up and taken with them. At the new place, the mats would be tied onto a new framework. In the winter, animal skins were hung on the inside of the house to keep out the cold. Khoi-Khoi kraals were built in a circular formation. A fence of thorn-tree branches and poles was build around the circle of shelters. The centre of the circle was kept open and their animals slept there at night. The shelters were built in the shape of beehives. The frame was made of pliable laths (support sticks) planted in a circle. The ends were bent inwards and fastened. This frame was then covered with long, rough grass mats. The floor of the shelter was smeared with a mixture of cow dung and animal blood and covered with animal skins and mats. Clothing The Khoi-Khoi used jackal and rabbit skins for clothes. Women wore an apron, cloak and loin cloth for warmth and protection. They would have a karos (white sheepskin, which they used for a blanket in winter or a cloak in summer). They would wear necklaces, bracelets and anklets for decoration. A pouch was worn around their neck for valuables. The men wore a cloak and loin cloth for protection. They often had a quiver, bow and assegai for hunting. Both the men and women wore leather sandals for protection.
The Khoi-Khoi as traders The Khoi-Khoi practised bartering mostly with the San or other tribes in the area. They bartered their cattle for iron and copper. After they came into contact with the Europeans, the bartering extended to include much sought-after articles like beads, copper rings, copper bracelets and tobacco. Musical Instruments The Khoi-Khoi had remarkable musical talents and their musical instruments were truly ingenious. They made a type of guitar using any hollow object with strings made of sinews. This instrument was known as a ramkie. Another well-known instrument was the rumble pot. This was a clay pot (tin was used later) covered with animal skin, beaten by hand. The goura or the bow that makes music was a very special instrument. It was a type of whistle. The bow was made from a pliable branch of the acacia tree and the strings from the back sinew of a buck. Attached to one end was a sharpened feather pen on which they blew. Such bows could produce beautiful rhythms sometimes the sound of buck running away or of a wounded buck falling. The most popular instrument was a flute made of reed, often accompanied by humming. Boys were taught from a young age to play these instruments. Drums were made from clay and covered with sheepskin. using gestures and body language without speaking. The Khoi-Khoi also developed mime into a special art form. Mime is the art of imitating people and situations
Beliefs, Religion and Traditions The Khoi-Khoi believed the moon was powerful and able to send messages to humans. During new moon, they danced and sang with their faces turned towards the moon. They asked for lots of money, grass for their cattle and milk for their families. They feared disaster whenever there was an eclipse of the moon. The Khoi-Khoi god was called Tsiu or Goab. Khoi-Khoi people believed that he not only created people, but also controlled the rain, animals, plants and the health of people. Ceremonies with singing and dancing were important to the Khoi-Khoi people just as they were to the San. The Khoi-Khoi had special ceremonies when a person s life changed in an important way. These ceremonies are called rituals. There were rituals for the birth of a child, for marriage, death and for the time when children became adults. During these rituals, the person whose life was changing was kept separate from the other people in the group for a few days. The Khoi-Khoi believed that this would keep them safe while their life was changing. When the person joined the group again, livestock were killed for a feast.