THE INTERNAL COLONISATION OF THE SAN PEOPLES OF BOTSWANA

Abstract

This discussion critically examines the socio-cultural and linguistic condition of the San peoples in Botswana from a postcolonial theoretical framework and an internal colonialism perspective. The San come from historical hunter-gatherers existence in southern Africa. The Bantu populations that later arrived systematically encroached into their lands, dominated them and exploited them as serfs. They were forced to abandon their languages, and have largely been assimilated by other dominant groups. Thus, there is nothing, at present that can help them to revitalize their distinct identity; they are, therefore, a highly endangered ethnic group in post-colonial independent Africa. This paper will argue that when the San clamour for language and cultural rights, for land and hunting rights, they express emotions that African societies expressed against European imperialism. It is the thesis of this paper that the socio-political hegemony exerted on the San people by mainline society is analogous to internal colonialism in a post-colonial state.