From the 16th century onwards, many european artists painted landscapes in favor of people, diminishing the people in their paintings to figures subsumed within broader, regionally specific landscapes. Some settled at the national park headquarters in twee rivieran and were employed by the park. The red dunes of the khomani cultural landscape are strongly associated with this unique culture stretching from the stone age to the present. Khomani cultural landscape has been declared a world heritage site by unesco, the declaration means south africa has a total of nine world heritage site destinations the. It covers 959 100 hectares, forming part of the kgalagadi transfrontier park and including the whole kalahari gemsbok national park. Hardly any south africans, have even heard of the khomani cultural landscape. The fear is that the heritage and language of the san will be lost and we are trying everything we can to preserve this. Khomani cultural landscape is located at the border with botswana and namibia in the northern part of the country, coinciding with the kalahari gemsbok national park kgnp. With the official proclamation of the kalahari gemsbok national park in 1931, the majority of the khomani, as well as the mier people who lived in that area, were forced to move to other areas.
Pdf kgalagadi transfrontier park is located in the northern cape province of south africa. Khomanisan history, migration, livelihoods, memory and resources. The san are the best model we have for the huntergatherer lifestyle that saw so many generations through the stone age, and it is tempting to say that the history of the later stone age is the history of the san. The purpose of the khomani cultural landscape is to maintain the khomani san history, migration, livelihoods, memory, geography and resources. Its official the khomani cultural landscape has been declared a world heritage site. The history of the san people in south africa is a very tr. The living museum allows one to learn more about the history and culture, and for a foodie experience try out aunt koeras farm kitchen. Their home is in the vast expanse of the kalahari desert. The bushmen are the remnants of africas oldest cultural group, genetically the closest surviving. The goals, objectives, and strategies explored below provide a pathway for the states preservation movement to work creatively and effectively to manifest this vision. Khomani cultural landscape is located at the border with botswana and. All the possible features of their tangible and intangible heritage that could be shown were recorded in stories, directly onto map sheets and on film. The landscape includes landmarks of the history, migration, livelihoods. The area in the southern kalahari, bordered in the east by botswana and the west by namibia, is where you will find a small group of the khomani san a people who, until recently, were thought to have vanished did you know.
Xaus lodge, tracking with tourists at witdraai and manual labour, make up other. Pdf contradictions of capitalism in the south african. Contradictions of capitalism in the south african kalahari. The san of southern africa have left a unique artistic tradition and. Khomani cultural landscape now south africa has 9 unesco. Pdf kgalagadi transfrontier park and its land claimants. Khomani cultural landscape now south africa has 9 unesco whs. Cultural, religious and linguistic communities, dr m guma, 3 khomani san doing a traditional dance at dusk. Apart from seeing the incredible beauty of the kalahari landscape, there are a variety of activities for visitors at khomani cultural landscape, including going on walks and trails with guides. Indigenous bushmen, their brand and baasskap in tourism. Khomani cultural landscape in kgalagadi, northern cape. Khomani san kalahari guiding experiences is a communitybased ecotourism enterprise on khomani san owned land within and next to the kgalagadi transfrontier park. The khomani cultural landscape has recently been inscribed as the 9 th of the countrys world heritage sites, and probably its most intriguing it is the only landscape to protect what remains of the oncenomadic san people whom unesco recognise as having.
Khomani heartland tentative world heritage site consists of regions located to. Xaus lodge, which is owned and run by the community, or at a number of smaller rest camps. All landscapes contain cultural heritage and hence itis an aspectof all landscapes managed by the npws. Landmarks of san history according to mketeni, the khomani cultural landscape features sparse vegetation, occasional trees, and the dry riverbeds of the nossob and auob rivers, as well as a. The guidelines for treatment of cultural landscapes define a cultural landscape as a geographic area including both cultural and natural resources, that is associated with a historic event, activity or person, or exhibiting any other cultural or aesthetic values. Khomanisan people developed a specific ethnobotanical knowledge, cultural practices and a worldview related to the geographical features of their desert environment. Khomani cultural landscape unesco world heritage centre. Khomani cultural landscape, was inscribed on the world heritage list on 8 july. Designated as a cultural landscape, the site includes landmarks of. More vulnerable are the languages spoken by the khomani, which are being. The cultural landscape foundation connects people to places. Khomani cultural landscape inscripted as a world heritage. History of cultural landscape preservation, 19301949. Minister of environmental affairs launches the khomani.
The bushmen are the oldest inhabitants of southern africa, where they have lived for at least 20,000 years. The large expanse of sand contains evidence of human. Application for inscription of the khomani cultural landscape on. Cultural landscapes, heritage surveys and heritage. Xam khomani heartland corresponds in fact to the kalahari gemsbok national park. It deals speci cally with the cultural politics of the successful 1999. The cultural landscape foundation, washington, district of columbia. The united nations education, scientific and cultural organisation unesco world heritage committee inscribed the site on its prestigious world heritage list during the 41 st session that took place in krakow, poland, from 2 to 12 july. The archive has made an invisible history visible and is preserving knowledge for future khomani san generations. The fear is the heritage and language of the san will be lost and we are trying everything we can to preserve this and pass on the culture and traditions to the young khomani san children, he said.
It is a landscape that has changed little from a time long ago when humans were mainly hunter gatherers. Khomani cultural landscape, otherwise known as the the. This can only be done at a very broad level of generalization, but evidence does points to a san history. Khomani cultural landscape was the only new south african destination declared a world heritage site in 2017 out of 25 new sites worldwide and is a milestone for the khomani san. Khomani cultural landscape south african history online.
History of cultural landscape preservation cultural. The khomani cultural landscape has changed little from its original form, the desert of the southern kalahari having remained protected as nature reserves. The concept of cultural landscapes can be found in the european tradition of landscape painting. Its an area in the southern kalahari, bordered in the east by botswana and the west by namibia, is where you will find a small group of the khomani san a people who, until recently, were thought to have vanished. People assign values to those landscapes including those associated with. Popular activities for tourists like nossob 4x4 eco trail, hakskeen pan mtb and many more.
Its value is significant and considered as a world heritage site. According to mketeni, the khomani cultural landscape features sparse vegetation, occasional trees, and the dry. Khomani cultural landscape south africa african world. It was within this dramatically changed political landscape that. Khomani san cultural landscape heritage site to learn about the heritage of the first people of the kalahari. Their distinct huntergatherer culture stretches back over 20 000 years, and their genetic origins reach back over one million years. The khomani are the last surviving indigenous san community in south africa and their living cultural landscape is an important aspect of national culture. The khomani desert san sas ninth world heritage site. Activities such as tracking and hunting are offered by experienced san guides, as are cultural experiences to learn more about their history. The khomani cultural landscape has read the full article by here. Khomani san landscape spotlights south african heritage. Khomani cultural landscape declared a unesco world. It is the only landscape to protect what remains of the oncenomadic san people whom unesco. To add some more confusion, together with the bostwana gemsbok national parks, if forms the african kgalagadi transfrontier park.
Khomanisan people developed a specific ethnobotanical knowledge, cultural practices and a worldview related to the geographical features of. The khomani cultural landscape is open for anyone to visit. History of cultural landscape preservation, 19601980. Human rights violations in the khomani san community. During the 11th and 16th century, rural cultural landscapes, particularly in europe, were associated with painting. Concerning the concept of rural cultural landscape, it is defined similarly, but within a rural context. Its no surprise that bali makes the list as it is one of the best places on earth to kick back and take it all in. The khomani cultural landscape our 9th world heritage.
Human rights violations in the khomani san community agreement over the management and. National parks are often places where people have previously lived and workedthey have been formed by a combination of natural and human processes that embody an identifiable history of cultural. We are passing on the cultures and traditions to the khomani san children. The khomani san community is found in south africa. Khomani cultural landscape is a vast area on the south african side of the kgalagadi transfrontier park ktp, which is large enough to accommodate a reasonably complete representation of the landscape values, features and processes which convey the special way in which the people were linked with the land. Khomani desert san northern cape, south africa the san. The khomani san live in the southern kalahari desert right up against the border with botswana and namibia, a small group of people in a. The san of southern africa have left a unique artistic tradition and archaeological record throughout the subcontinent. The khomani cultural landscape archives kimberley city info. Khomani cultural landscape inscripted as a world heritage site at its 41st session taking place in krakow, poland from 0212 july 2017, the united nations education, scientific and cultural organisation unesco world heritage committee has inscribed on its prestigious world heritage list, the khomani cultural landscape. Rare khomani san archive tells a story of fragility. Khomani cultural landscape declared a unesco world heritage.
Our story is a long one that started many thousands of years ago when our ancestors still moved freely across southern africa, following the rains, the plants and the animals that brought us life. The recorded history of the bushmen, found in books, museum collections and even. Khomani cultural landscape listed on world heritage list. Unesco has announced its amended list at the 41st session of the world heritage committee meeting in poland earlier this week. The path from a history of land dispossession to being land owners has created. History of cultural landscape preservation, 19812000.