What were the Khoikhois Who Lived from the Sea Called:
Title: The Strandlopers: Khoikhoi People Living from the Sea
The indigenous people of South Africa have a rich history, with many different tribes and cultures making up their complex social fabric. The Khoikhoi, traditionally pastoralist people, are among the most well-known of these indigenous groups. However, a sub-group of the Khoikhoi who lived along the coast and subsisted primarily on marine resources had a distinct way of life, earning them a unique name: the Strandlopers.
What were the Khoikhois Who Lived from the Sea Called
The Khoikhoi people who lived from the sea were commonly referred to as the Strandlopers.
Who Were the Strandlopers?
The name “Strandloper” translates from Afrikaans to “beach walker” in English. This term was commonly used to refer to the Khoikhoi groups and other San peoples who lived along the southern African coastlines, particularly in what is now modern-day South Africa and Namibia.
The Strandlopers were not pastoralists like the inland Khoikhoi; instead, they adopted a hunter-gatherer lifestyle adapted to their coastal environment. Their lives were intrinsically linked to the sea, from which they derived most of their sustenance.
Life and Survival of the Strandlopers:
The Strandlopers’ lifestyle was heavily based on marine resources. They were skilled fishermen, using a variety of tools and techniques to catch fish and other marine animals. They also gathered shellfish, such as mussels and oysters, from the rocky shorelines. Their diet was supplemented with plant foods and occasional game from the coastal scrubland and interior.
The Strandlopers are particularly notable for their ‘middens’, heaps of discarded shells and other debris that accumulated over time at their habitual living sites. These middens serve as important archaeological records, providing insights into their diet, tools, and lifestyle.
Impact of Colonization:
With the advent of European colonization, the Strandlopers’ traditional lifestyle was significantly impacted. Many were dispossessed of their coastal lands and forced to adopt Western ways of life. Their traditional knowledge, skills, and customs gradually eroded over generations, leading to the disappearance of the Strandloper way of life.
However, the historical and archaeological record of the Strandlopers is robust, and their descendants among the Khoikhoi and San peoples continue to honor their unique coastal heritage.
The Strandlopers exemplify the rich tapestry of human adaptation to diverse environments. As part of the larger Khoikhoi community, they forged a unique path of survival in tune with the sea’s rhythms. While their traditional lifestyle may no longer exist, the legacy of the Strandlopers lives on in the archaeological record and in the heritage of the Khoikhoi and San peoples. Understanding their way of life enriches our knowledge of the multifaceted nature of indigenous cultures and their intimate relationships with the environment.
