Non daté
Otavi Mountains, Namibia
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Otavi are described as remnants of former small-bodied hunting-and-gathering groups in the Otavi Mountains. Unlike the San, they are characterized in the extract by very dark skin and thick lips, and they call themselves Nu-Khoin, meaning “black people,” in contrast to the Khoi-Khoi, whom they called “red people.” Their distinctive counting system, unlike the Khoi-Khoi decimal system, is presented as evidence of cultural diversity among early southern African populations.
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Le récit
At the beginning of the twentieth century, Vedder studied the Otavi, who are presented as remnants of earlier groups in the Otavi Mountains. They were small in stature and lived by hunting and gathering, placing them within the extract’s broader discussion of populations that preceded or existed alongside more dominant southern African groups. Their way of life is compared with that of the San, but the text does not identify them simply as San.
The passage highlights physical differences between the Otavi and San. The Otavi are said to have very dark skin and thick lips, and their self-designation is given as Nu-Khoin, translated as “black people.” This term is contrasted with their designation for the Khoi-Khoi as “red people,” illustrating how group names and distinctions could encode social perceptions as well as physical description.
Their counting system is singled out as especially significant. Whereas the Khoi-Khoi are said to count in tens, the Otavi system differed sharply. The author uses this contrast to show that small and poorly documented groups may preserve evidence of the complex cultural history of the forests and savannahs of central and southern Africa.
Non daté
Otavi Mountains, Namibia
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Otavi are described as remnants of former small-bodied hunting-and-gathering groups in the Otavi Mountains. Unlike the San, they are characterized in the extract by very dark skin and thick lips, and they call themselves Nu-Khoin, meaning “black people,” in contrast to the Khoi-Khoi, whom they called “red people.” Their distinctive counting system, unlike the Khoi-Khoi decimal system, is presented as evidence of cultural diversity among early southern African populations.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
At the beginning of the twentieth century, Vedder studied the Otavi, who are presented as remnants of earlier groups in the Otavi Mountains. They were small in stature and lived by hunting and gathering, placing them within the extract’s broader discussion of populations that preceded or existed alongside more dominant southern African groups. Their way of life is compared with that of the San, but the text does not identify them simply as San.
The passage highlights physical differences between the Otavi and San. The Otavi are said to have very dark skin and thick lips, and their self-designation is given as Nu-Khoin, translated as “black people.” This term is contrasted with their designation for the Khoi-Khoi as “red people,” illustrating how group names and distinctions could encode social perceptions as well as physical description.
Their counting system is singled out as especially significant. Whereas the Khoi-Khoi are said to count in tens, the Otavi system differed sharply. The author uses this contrast to show that small and poorly documented groups may preserve evidence of the complex cultural history of the forests and savannahs of central and southern Africa.
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