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| | {{ethnic group| | | {{ethnic group| |
| − | |group=Xhosa | + | |group=Shona |
| − | |image=[[Image:Nelson_Mandela.jpg]] | + | |image= |
| − | [[Nelson Mandela]] is a famous Xhosa-speaker.
| + | |poptime= c8,000,000 |
| − | |poptime=2001: '''7.9 million''' est. <sup>[[#References|1]]</sup> | + | |popplace=[[Zimbabwe]], [[Mozambique]] |
| − | |popplace=[[Eastern Cape Province|Eastern Cape]]: '''5.4 million''', | + | |rels=[[Christianity]], other |
| − | [[Western Cape Province|Western Cape]]: '''1.1 million''', | + | |langs=[[Shona]] |
| − | [[Gauteng Province|Gauteng]]: '''0.7 million''',
| + | |related=other [[Bantu]] peoples |
| − | [[Free State Province|Free State]]: '''0.25 million''', | |
| − | [[Kwazulu-Natal Province|Kwazulu-Natal]]: '''0.22 million'''
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| − | (2001 est. <sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>)
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| − | |langs=[[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], many also speak [[English language|English]] or [[Afrikaans language|Afrikaans]]. | |
| − | |rels=[[Animist]], [[Christian]]
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| − | |related=[[Bantu]], [[Nguni]], [[Basotho]], [[Zulu]], [[Khoisan]] | |
| | }} | | }} |
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| − | The '''Xhosa''' people are a group of peoples of [[Bantu]] origins living in south-east [[South Africa]].
| + | '''Shona''' ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]: {{IPA|[ʃəonə]}}) is the name collectively given to several groups of people in [[Zimbabwe]] and western [[Mozambique]]. Numbering about eight million people, who speak a range of related dialects whose standardised form is also known as [[Shona language|Shona]]. |
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| | + | However, many black Zimbabweans do not self-identify as Shona, preferring instead to describe their origin in terms of their specific language/dialect group (e.g., [[Zezuru]]) or ancestry group (e.g., [[Rozvi]]). Ancestors of today's Shona groups are believed to have been the first permanent inhabitants of the region where the [[Great Zimbabwe]] site was later established, with archaeological evidence of Iron Age occupation in the 5th century AD. |
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| | + | Most Zimbabweans either identify themselves as either belonging to the Ndebele or Shona ethnic group. Dialect groups are nowadays almost irrelevant because 'standard' shona is spoken throughout Zimbabwe. Dialects only help to identify which town or village a person is from rather (e.g. a person claiming to be a Manyika would be from Eastern Zimbabwe,i.e in towns like Mutare).Another example one of the various dialects include Kalan'a (Chikaranga in Shona),which is mostly implemented in the Northern parts of the country e.g. along the Zambezi Valley. The above differences in dialects developed during the dispersion of tribes across the country over a long time. The influx of immigrants, into the country from boardering countries, has obviously contributed to the variety. |
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| − | ==History of the Xhosa==
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| − | The Xhosa are part of the southern [[Nguni]] migration which slowly moved south from the region around the [[African_Great_Lakes|Great Lakes]]; based on linguistic and archeological evidence, the ancestors of the Xhosa are likely to have arrived in South Africa around 1500 years ago. [http://www.museums.org.za/sh/arch/earlyaf.htm]
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| − | The name Xhosa refers to a specific tribal leader, called uXhosa, from whom the Xhosa clan descend. They refer to themselves as the '''amaXhosa''' and their language as [[Xhosa language|isiXhosa]], a [[Bantu]] language. Xhosa society was historically viewed as an 'open' society, because of its readiness to learn from, trade and interact with other societies. This included the incorporation or absorption of entire [[Khoi]] and [[Griqua]] cultural groups into Xhosa communities, often through marriage, and the wholesale adoption of [[Khoisan]] [[loanwords]] into Xhosa vocabulary.
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| − | The Xhosa people split in the eighteenth century as the result of a succession dispute between chiefs. The two branches of the group are known as the Gcaleka and the Rharhabe or Ngqika. The name Xhosa is also often used to refer to anyone from a number of different Xhosa-speaking ethnic groups that includes the [[Pondo]] and Thembu, neighbours of the Xhosa people, and the Mfengu people, who are descendants of scattered clans who were displaced during the [[mfecane]] (a sort of [[diaspora]]) of the early nineteenth century.
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| − | Although nowadays around 8 million Xhosa people are distributed across the country, the population is concentrated in the [[Eastern Cape Province]] of South Africa. The pre-1994 South African system of [[bantustan]]s attempted to confine Xhosa people to the nominally self-governing 'homelands' of [[Transkei]] or [[Ciskei]], now both a part of Eastern Cape Province
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| − | The Xhosa and white settlers first encountered one another around Somerset East in the early 1700s. In the late 1700s [[Afrikaner]] [[trekboer]]s migrating outwards from Cape Town came into conflict with Xhosa pastoralists around the Great Fish River region of the [[Eastern Cape]]. Following more than 20 years of intermittent conflict, in [[1811]] to [[1812]] the Xhosas were forced east by [[British Empire|British]] colonial forces in what was known as the Third Frontier War.
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| − | In the years following, many Xhosa-speaking clans were pushed west by expansion of the [[Zulu]]s, as the northern [[Nguni]] put pressure on the southern Nguni as part of the historical process known as the [[mfecane]], or "scattering". Xhosa unity and ability to resist colonial expansion was further weakened by the [[famine]]s and political divisions that followed the cattle-killing movement of [[1856]] (see [[Nongqawuse]]). Historians now view this movement as a [[millenialism|millenialist]] response both directly to a lung disease spreading among Xhosa cattle at the time, and less directly to the stress to Xhosa society caused by the continuing loss of their territory and autonomy. At least one historian has also suggested that it can be seen as a rebellion against the upper classes of Xhosa society, which used cattle as a means of consolidating wealth and political power, and which had lost respect as they failed to hold back white expansion.
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| − | With or without Nongqawuse, white expansion in particular would likely have eventually caused much the same effect as the cattle-killing; the cattle-killing simply likely hastened the speed at which Xhosa people left pastoralism and joined the wage economy.
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| − | Some historians argue that this early absorption into the wage economy is the ultimate origin of the long history of trade union membership and political leadership among Xhosa people. That history manifests itself today in high degrees of Xhosa representation in the leadership of the [[African National Congress]], South Africa's ruling political party.
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| − | ==Local Environment==
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| − | The Xhosa settled on mountain slopes of the Amatola and the Zinterberg Mountains. Many streams drain into great rivers of this Xhosa territory including the Kei and Fish River. Rich soils and plentiful rainfall make the river basins good for farming and grazing making cattle important and the basis of wealth. Traditional foods include [[sorghum]], [[maize]], [[milk]], [[pumpkins]], [[beans]], [[vegetables]], and umphokoqo, or dry maize porridge. [[Tobacco]] is an important crop in this area.
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| − | ==Language==
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| − | :''Main article: [[Xhosa language]]''
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| − | In [[South Africa]], the Xhosa-speaking people form the second largest language group. The language contains click sounds borrowed from [[Khoisan]] languages. Three basic clicks are used when speaking Xhosa. They are C (front-click) as in icici (an earring).'' Form a slight smile, put tongue behind teeth and pull down.'' Q (top click) as in iqaa (skunk). ''Form an O and put tongue on roof (middle) then pull down.'' X (side-click) as in uxam (water lizard). ''Pull tongue inward and downward from top roof of mouth.'' These clicks can also be used in combination with consonant sounds as in ingca. Use c and ng.
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| − | ==Religion==
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| − | Traditional Xhosa culture includes [[diviners]], who serve as herbalists, prophets, and healers for the community. This job is mostly taken by women, who spend five years as an apprentice. Many Xhosa people are [[Christian]], particularly within the African Initiated Churches such as the [[Zion Christian Church]].
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| − | ==Oral tradition==
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| − | The key figure in the Xhosa oral tradition is the ''imbongi'' (plural: ''iimbongi'') or praise singer. ''Iimbongi'' traditionally live close to the chief’s great place and accompany the chief on important occasions - the ''imbongi'' Zolani Mkiva preceded [[Nelson Mandela]] at his Presidential inauguration in [[1994]]. Iimbongi's poetry praises the chief’s actions and best features, and may also criticise the chief if aspects of his reign or government are unpopular.
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| − | ==Famous Xhosa People==
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| − | [[Nelson Mandela]] is a Xhosa-speaking member of the Thembu people.
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| − | Other famous Xhosa speakers include:
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| − | *[[Stephen Biko]]
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| − | *[[Bulelani Ngcuka]]
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| − | *[[Thabo Mbeki]]
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| − | *[[Makhaya Ntini]]
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| − | *[[Desmond Tutu]]
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| − | *[[Brenda Fassie]]
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| − | *[[Winnie Madikizela-Mandela]]
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| − | *[[Chris Hani]]
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| − | *[[Oliver Tambo]]
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| − | *[[Walter Sisulu]]
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| − | *[[Miriam Makeba]]
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| − | *[[Robert Sobukwe]]
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| − | *[[John Kani]]
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| − | *[[Winston Ntshona]]
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| − | *[[Enoch Sontonga]]
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| − | *[[Govan Mbeki]]
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| − | *[[Archibald Campbell Jordan]]
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| − | *[[Victoria Mxenge]]
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| − | *[[S.E.K. Mqhayi]]
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| − | *[[Amampondo]]
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| − | *[[Fats Bookulane]]
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| − | *[[Ken Gampu]]
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| − | *[[Bongani Ndodana]]
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| − | *[[General Bantu Holomisa]]
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| − | *[[Percy Qoboza]]
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| | ==See also== | | ==See also== |
| − | *Reverend [[Henry Hare Dugmore]], the first translator of the [[Christian]] [[bible]] and [[psalms]] into Xhosa | + | *[[Mbira#Mbira_Dzavadzimu|Mbira Dzavadzimu]] |
| − | | + | *[[Shona music]] |
| − | ==References==
| + | *[[Shona language]] |
| − | * [http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/demographics/census-main.htm Results of the 2001 South African census]
| + | *[[Bantu language]] |
| − | ::Note that the figure mentioned on this page is based upon the number of people speaking [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]] as their home language, which may be greater or less than the total number of people claiming Xhosa descent.
| + | *[[Zimbabwe]] |
| − | * Reader, J., 1997. ''[[Africa]]: A Biography of the Continent'', Vintage Books, [[New York]], NY, United States of America. | |
| − | * Kaschula, Russell ''[[The Heritage Library of African People]]: Xhosa,'' New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 1997. | |
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | {{interwiki|code=xh}}
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| − | *[http://www.statssa.gov.za/census2001/digiAtlas/index.html 2001 Digital Census Atlas] | |
| − | * [http://www.sacred-texts.com/afr/xft/ Xhosa Folklore] - a collection of Xhosa folklore collected in 1886.
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| − | * [http://www.google.com/intl/xh/ Xhosa Google] - Google interface in Xhosa
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| − | * [http://www.razsar.com/History%20and%20culture/E%20Xhosa.htm RaZSAR], a website dedicated to supporting ecotourism in Kimberley and the Northern Cape of South Africa.
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| − | [[Category:Xhosa|*]]
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| − | [[Category:Ethnic groups in South Africa]] | |
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| − | {{Ethnic Groups South Africa}}
| + | [[Category:Ethnic groups in Zimbabwe]] |
| | + | [[Category:Ethnic groups in Mozambique]] |
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| − | [[da:Xhosa-folket]] | + | [[sh:Šona (narod)]] |
| − | [[de:Xhosa (Volk)]]
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| − | [[es:Xhosa]]
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| − | [[gl:Xhosa]]
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| − | [[it:Xhosa]]
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| − | [[nl:Xhosa (volk)]]
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| − | [[pt:Xhosa]]
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| − | [[sh:Xhosa]]
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| − | [[fi:Xhosat]]
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| − | [[sv:Xhosa]]
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