‘Indigenous’ people fight for inclusion
The San, the indigenous people of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, won a major victory in December 2006, at the end of the longest and most expensive court proceeding in that country’s history. The High Court ruled that the state had wrongfully evicted them from a reserve four years earlier and that they could return home. Civil society activists around the world hailed the ruling as a historic precedent for the rights of indigenous people everywhere, especially in Africa, where many governments have been reluctant to recognize the concept of indigenous rights.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF EASTERN AFRICA?
The indigenous peoples of East Africa are Pastoralists and hunter-gatherers who pre-date the migration of Bantu agro-pastoralist peoples into this region. The transhumant pastoralist includes the Maasai, Samburu, Borana, Rendille, Gabra, El Molo, Turkana, Pokot, of Kenya, the Karamajong of Uganda, the Datoga-Barabaig of Tanzania and the Mursi of Ethiopia. Hunters and gatherers include the Ogiek, Sengwer, Endorois, Aweer, Waata, Elmolo, Yiaku, of Kenya, the Batwa, Ilk, Soo, Benet, Aasax of Uganda and the Akie Hadzabe and Sandawe of Tanzania.
Amidst increasing awareness about the particular needs and the precarious position of many indigenous peoples in Africa, the Centre for Human Rights this week for the first time presents a week-long training course on the rights of indigenous peoples in Africa to government officials, members of civil society, representatives of indigenous communities and academics from across Africa. It is the first course of this kind presented by an academic institution in Africa.
Indigenous peoples in Southern Africa are the San and the Khoekhoe peoples.
The San peoples are linguistically and culturally diverse. Before colonisation, the San and Khoekhoe were spread from Cape Point up into Angola and Malawi. Today the San and Khoekhoe mostly live in the Kalahari Basin – principally in Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Angola, with smaller communities in western Zambia and Zimbabwe. The San peoples include a range of language communities such as the Ju|’hoansi, !Kung, !Xun, Khwe, ||Anikhwe, Naro, !Xõó, ‡Khomani and Tyhua. There are three major language families spoken by the various San peoples: these are the Ju (northern), Khoe (central) and !Ui-Taa (southern) language clusters. The Khoekhoe include the Nama and the Griqua peoples. Khoekhoe is part of the central Khoe-San language family and is still spoken widely in southern Namibia. The old spelling of Khoe is Khoi.
5 Most Stylish Indigenous Tribes in Africa
The Maasai from Kenya is famous for their love and dedication to their cattle. The main garment worn by the Maasai (male or female) is the “shuka,” which is basically a long piece of clothing that can be worn in a several ways depending on the choice of the wearer. Often red or brown with black
stripes, the shuka also doubles as a blanket, protecting the herdsmen from harsh weather. Maasai men also wear a shuka and are eager to show off their braided hair, earrings, bracelets, the feathers on their caps, and their lion manes, which signify bravery and achievement a man’s achievements as a skilled hunter and warrior.
The Wodaabe people are traditionally nomadic cattle-herders and traders who move around the Savannah in central and north western Africa. They are without a doubt one of the most stylish, self-preening, and fashion-centric people in the world. They are known for their elaborate attire and rich cultural ceremonies.
For the traditional Wodaabe, being stylish goes beyond catering to the desires of vanity. The customs of the tribe places a great deal of emphasis on personal beauty and charm. In popular culture, the Wodaabe are perhaps best known for the “Guérewol” festival, where intricately dressed young men in elaborate facial make-up, including feathers and beads, engage in a beauty contest of sorts as they jostle for the attention of the young women of marriageable age.
The Yoruba people are a fun-loving and progressive tribe found in south west Nigeria and parts of Benin and Togo. They take pride in their traditional attire that features various patterns and styles. Traditional Yoruba clothing was made from cotton processed by traditional weavers. Yoruba traditional designs are very gender sensitive. Men wear free flowing gowns, baggy trousers, and matching caps, while women wear short blouses, a matching wrapper, and a head tie known as “gele.” The head gear of the Yoruba woman has gone on to become perhaps one of the most iconic style items of contemporary West African fashion.
Among the traditional Fulani, a tribe with perhaps the widest geographical dispersion in all of Africa, men and women wear white cotton fabric adorned with intricate embroidery featuring a combination of primary colors. The women decorate their hair with a collection of beaded accessories, cowries, and coins. For their part, men wear a distinctive colorful hat that is both aesthetic and practical. The traditional Fulani favor the heavy usage of henna, a strong natural dye that leaves black marks on the skin. The henna dye is used to draw temporary tattoos across the feet, palms, and face.
When it comes to style the Zulu never disappoint. From their kraals to their clothing, the Zulu are in love with bright vibrant colors. In fact, traditional Zulu dressing incorporates nearly every color in the rainbow. In traditional Zulu society, a woman’s choice of dress communicates her marital status. Unmarried women typically wear a short skirt made from colorful beads, while those engaged wear the same beaded skirt, but with an accompanying matching bib also made of beads draped across her neck. Married women are however fully clothed. Men sport a colorful combination of exotic animal skin and feathers that is indicative of their status, rank, and age. Young men wear short knee-length skirts made out of cow’s hide, while older men wear a slightly longer version of the same outfit. The Zulu king and his supporting chiefs wear leopard skin and exotic bird feathers.
Indigenous Peoples Literature 