Bushmanland
Encyclopedia
Bushmanland is a name applied to two different territories; one in Namibia and one in South Africa. Though they have points of resemblance, they do not adjoin.
One of the territories called Bushmanland was a bantustan
in South West Africa
(present-day Namibia
), intended by the apartheid government to be a self-governing homeland for the ethnic San (or Bushmen
). Despite this, a government was not established in the region.
The Namibian Bushmanland, like other homelands in South West Africa, was abolished in May 1989 at the start of the transition to independence
.
The South African Bushmanland is an arid area inland from Namaqualand
. It is probably the most inhospitable area in South Africa, arid and largely with infertile soil and highly saline groundwater. Its wildlife however, both fauna and flora, though sparse, are full of interest. Although the veld is too arid to bloom like that of the Wast Coast of Namaqualand, even when there is some spring rain, what does appear is highly unusual and often hauntingly beautiful. Vaalputs, a Nuclear waste repository, has been sited between Bushmanland and Namaqualand, and acts as a de facto nature reserve.
One of the territories called Bushmanland was a bantustan
Bantustan
A bantustan was a territory set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa and South West Africa , as part of the policy of apartheid...
in South West Africa
South West Africa
South-West Africa was the name that was used for the modern day Republic of Namibia during the earlier eras when the territory was controlled by the German Empire and later by South Africa....
(present-day Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
), intended by the apartheid government to be a self-governing homeland for the ethnic San (or Bushmen
Bushmen
The indigenous people of Southern Africa, whose territory spans most areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, are variously referred to as Bushmen, San, Sho, Barwa, Kung, or Khwe...
). Despite this, a government was not established in the region.
The Namibian Bushmanland, like other homelands in South West Africa, was abolished in May 1989 at the start of the transition to independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
.
The South African Bushmanland is an arid area inland from Namaqualand
Namaqualand
Namaqualand is an arid region of Namibia and South Africa, extending along the west coast over and covering a total area of 170,000 square miles/440,000 km². It is divided by the lower course of the Orange River into two portions - Little Namaqualand to the south and Great Namaqualand to the...
. It is probably the most inhospitable area in South Africa, arid and largely with infertile soil and highly saline groundwater. Its wildlife however, both fauna and flora, though sparse, are full of interest. Although the veld is too arid to bloom like that of the Wast Coast of Namaqualand, even when there is some spring rain, what does appear is highly unusual and often hauntingly beautiful. Vaalputs, a Nuclear waste repository, has been sited between Bushmanland and Namaqualand, and acts as a de facto nature reserve.
See also
- Apartheid