Abantu Bemadwaleni we-Sterkfontein

Abathwa Egade Bakhuluma Ilimi le-Kwi Ebebahlala e-Cradle

©Roger de la Harpe
Ngekwesiko iwoma labantu bokuthoma elaziwako ephasini babathwa/Bushmen nanyana ama-San egade bahlala encenyeni ezinengi zeSewula Africa ukusukela eminyakeni eyi-30 000 eyadlulako. Ilimi labo i-iKwi kanye namagwala wabo esematjeni asukela eminyakeni emakhulukhulu eyadlulako (amatje wakade agwaliwako aneminyaka eyi-70 000 yobudala begodu irholo elagwalwa kade lagwalwa eminyakeni eyi-27 0000 eyadlulako), okubufakazi bokobana iSewula Africa yaphuquka kade.
Kusukela kade isifunda se-Cradle of humankind sizele ngenlwane zomango, ezinamadlelo anamanzi begodu sinehlabathi evundileko njeke akusibudisi ukwazi bona abaThwa bahlala endaweni leyo. Ubufakazi balokhu butholakala erholweni le-Kruger, hlangana kwe-Rustenburg kanye ne-Cradle of humankind, lapha ama-archaeologist athole khona istringhi kanye namathulusi eniwe ngelitje enziwa eminyakeni eyi 7000 eyadlulako. Imihlobiso yabathwa sele itholwe erholweni le-Uitkomst e-Nash Nature Reserve, sele kutholwe nemigwalo embalwa ematjeni wendawo le.
Abathwa kade bazizazi zethekhunology yeskhathi se-Stone Age, kodwana eminyekeni eyi-1000 eyadlulako kwaphela ukusetjenziswa kwethekunoloji le eSewula Africa lokha nakufika aBantu. Abantu bokufikaba gade beza enarheni le bakhamba kancani kancani babuya emakhabo e-West Africa iminaka emakhulu bafika nethekhunoloji yabo etja ebabuya nayo e-Middle East efana nezokulima, iinkomo, ukulima nerhono lokuncibilikisa i-iron. Lokhu kwenziwa bona bahluke kunabathwa egade banganazo iinkomo.

AbaNtu Egade Bahlala e-Cradle

©David Fleminger
Ibizo labantu livele elimini i-(Ntu) lapha imihlobo eminengi yabantu be-Africa abasayabelanako. Lokha nabanzinza eSewula Africa, nanyana kunjalo bathoma bazihlukanisa babazinqhemaqhema, esinye nesinye sibenelimi laso kanye nesiko laso. AmaNguni (Swazi, Zulu kanye naXhosa) bakhetha ukuhlala etlhagwini bazibeka bahlala emakhrestini egade abuswa ngesistimu yamakhosi kanye neyenduna. AbeSotho (ekubalwa amaTswana kanye namaPedi) kwelinye ihlangothi bayokuhlala enarheni ephakathi batlama iinqhema eziyi-60 ezahlukahlukeneko. Bazikhethela ukuhlala emiphakathini emikhulu enabantu abafika ku-150 00 begodu isistimu yabo karhulumende beyibonakala inga ngeyentando yenengi.
Ngeminyaka ka-1500AD, amalunga womhlobo wabaSotho/Tswana wafudukela enarheni ye-Cradle of Humankind bahlala kwabasekhaya. Kwathonywa imihlobo emikhulu emibili i-BaPo kanye neKwena ba kaMmatau, begodu iinsalela ze-iron zatholwa e-Cradle of Humankind, iibaya zamatje ebezakhelwe iinkomo zabo, kanye nembuzi, kanye nensalela zemijeka yabo ehlukileko sele zitholwe endaweni ezimbalwa e-Cradle of humankind. Iminyaka emakhulukhulu eyalandela lapho, imihlobo yabantwabo bahlala ngokuthula kanye nokuphumelela.

Translated by Busisiwe Skhosana