Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/African Lore/Answer Key"
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== History of the Xhosa == | == History of the Xhosa == | ||
| − | The name supposedly refers to one of their legendary chieftains of old. They refer to themselves as the '''amaXhosa''' and their language as [[Xhosa language|isiXhosa]] — another prefix-oriented [[Bantu]] language. As their Bantu-speaking ancestors moved south, they may have absorbed some local [[ | + | The name supposedly refers to one of their legendary chieftains of old. They refer to themselves as the '''amaXhosa''' and their language as [[Xhosa language|isiXhosa]] — another prefix-oriented [[Bantu]] language. As their Bantu-speaking ancestors moved south, they may have absorbed some local [[Khoi]] and [[Griqua]] populations, with a consequent impact on the language and geneology of the Xhosa people. |
Although they are distributed across the country, they are concentrated in the [[Eastern Cape Province]] of South Africa. Under the pre-1994 South African system of [[bantustan]]s, they were allocated to [[Transkei]] or [[Ciskei]], now both a part of Eastern Cape. | Although they are distributed across the country, they are concentrated in the [[Eastern Cape Province]] of South Africa. Under the pre-1994 South African system of [[bantustan]]s, they were allocated to [[Transkei]] or [[Ciskei]], now both a part of Eastern Cape. | ||
Revision as of 12:59, 14 July 2005
The Xhosa people are a people with Bantu origins living in South Africa.
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[[Image:File:Mandelaza.jpg Nelson Mandela is a famous member of this ethnic group|thumb|300px|{{{image caption}}}]]
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History of the Xhosa
The name supposedly refers to one of their legendary chieftains of old. They refer to themselves as the amaXhosa and their language as isiXhosa — another prefix-oriented Bantu language. As their Bantu-speaking ancestors moved south, they may have absorbed some local Khoi and Griqua populations, with a consequent impact on the language and geneology of the Xhosa people.
Although they are distributed across the country, they are concentrated in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Under the pre-1994 South African system of bantustans, they were allocated to Transkei or Ciskei, now both a part of Eastern Cape.
Historically they were pushed west by expansion of the Zulus, as the northern Nguni put pressure on the southern Nguni, a process known as the Mfecane. Their ability to resist the British colonisers was weakened by the famines and political divisions that followed in the wake of the Cattle-Killing of 1856–1857 (see Nongqawuse).
The "Xh" in the word "Xhosa" is a click consonant.
Famous Xhosa People
Nelson Mandela is Xhosa, and they provide a significant portion of the African National Congress leadership.
References
- Note that the figure mentioned on this page is based upon the number of people speaking Xhosa as their home language, which may be greater or less than the total number of people claiming Xhosa descent.
External Links
- Xhosa Folklore - a collection of Xhosa folklore collected in 1886.
