where they have lived for over 20,000 years. Their territories span across Botswana, Namibia,
Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and South Africa.
They used to be referred to as Bushmen until such a term was condemned for being dehumanizing and derogatory.
Made up of small mobile groups, the San people communicate in numerous dialects of a group of languages known for the characteristic 'clicks' that can be heard in their pronunciations.
According to history, the San are excellent hunters. Although they do a fair amount of trapping the best method of hunting is with bow and arrow. The San arrow does not kill the animal straight away. It is the deadly poison, which eventually causes the death.
Colonialism however caused havoc in the San transitory lifestyle, they were no longer allowed
to roam freely and trophy hunters destroyed the vast herds of game that formed their principal
supply of food. They were force into slavery and became farm labourers and some joined Black farming communities, and intermarried with them, which added to the destruction of the social identity of the San people.
The San retain many of their ancient practices but have made certain compromises to modern
living and due to absorption, they may soon go into extinction and only historical journals would
be used to tell their stories.