The San People
The earliest hunter-gatherers in southern Africa.
The San people, also known as the Bushmen, are one of the oldest indigenous groups in Southern Africa. They are a nomadic tribe who traditionally lived off the land by hunting and gathering. Today, the San people mostly live in the Kalahari Desert in Namibia and Botswana.
In 2015, I had the opportunity to visit the San people in Namibia. Getting to their village was not easy, but it was worth it. Spending a whole day with the San people allowed me to learn about their way of life, customs and beliefs, as well as capture unique moments with my camera.
The San people welcomed me into their community, showing me their hunting and gathering techniques, and sharing stories and songs passed down through generations. I was fascinated by their language, with its clicks and other unique sounds, and by their deep connection to the land.
Despite the challenges they face, the San people remain proud and resilient, and it was an honor to be able to learn from them and witness their way of life. Visiting the San people was a truly unforgettable experience, and I left with a greater appreciation for their rich cultural heritage and traditions.
The San’s language is characterized by «click» sounds that are made by snapping the tongue against the palate, the teeth or the lips; they count up to 20 different clicks, but the most used are of three types: the palate one, obtained by removing the tongue from the palate, the lateral ones, obtained by moving the tongue from the upper right teeth and the dental ones, when the tongue presses on the upper incisors.
