The Coloured community, a unique group

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Staff Writer | Friday March 29, 2013 00:00

 

Besides the extensive combining of these diverse heritages in the Western Cape,  in which a distinctive 'Cape Coloured' and affiliated Cape Malay culture developed - in other parts of Southern Africa, their development has usually been the result of the meeting of two distinct groups.

Genetic studies suggest the group has the highest levels of mixed ancestry in the world.  However, the maternal (female) contribution to the Coloured population, measured by mitochondrial DNA studies, was found to come mostly from the Khoisan population.

Griquas, on the other hand, are descendants of Khoisan and Afrikaner Boer trekkers.

Despite these major differences, the fact that they draw parentage from more than one 'naturalised' racial group means that they are 'coloured' in the Southern African context.

The imperial and apartheid governments categorised them as Coloured. In addition, other ethnic groups also traditionally viewed them as a separate group.

Because in Botswana the Coloureds are in the majority in Bokspits other ethnic groups in the country have often referred to them, as Ma-Bokspits.  Other villages where Coloureds are dominant are Werda, Bokspits, Kuis and Struizendum.

Social anthropologist Isaac Schapera is quoted in Dr Rogers Molefi's book The Medical History of Botswana as saying Coloureds in Botswana are descendants of Griqua half-castes who migrated into Bechunaland from the Cape Colony.They are believed to have trekked from the south to Gordonia and later Bokspits.

Finding a cultural identity has proved a big challenge for this group.  Often their cultural practices  would be drawn from the ethnic groups they would find in a particular area.

According to historians Keith Buchanana and N. Hurwitz (The Coloured Community in the Union of South Africa), culturally the Cape Coloureds' affinities are with the dominant European group.

Most Coloured peoples speak Afrikaans including those found in the above listed villages yet it remains the only cultural component adopted from their white ancestors.

According to chief Serai Esterhuizen of Bokspits, some Coloured people speak Sekgothu and Afrikaans. He told Arts & Culture that their 'only cultural practice is the church'.

Different African tribes have various observations and rituals performed for specific purposes but the Coloureds in Bokspits seem to have very few of such activities.

'Most people here are Lutherans and a small number are members of the Dutch Reformed Church. So if there are any rituals to be conducted they are done at church,' Esterhuizen said.

Esterhuizen told Arts & Culture that the only prominent ritual performed is the one to welcome newborns into the family and the community. 

In most African communities these rituals not only celebrate and acknowledge the child, but can also serve as an important way for families to solidify their connection to community, heritage and culture.

The Xhosa, for instance, have what they call Imbeleko, a ceremony performed to introduce the new born to the family and the ancestors.

A goat is slaughtered as a sacrifice to the ancestors when doing this ceremony. This ceremony or ritual is done so that the ancestors may know their child and accept him or her.  When doing the ritual the elders will speak to the ancestors and ask them to guide and protect the child.

'We do not have rituals where a child is smeared with traditional medicine or made to drink concoctions as it happens with other tribes.  But we believe it is very important to take the child to church to be blessed.  Once the child has grown he or she has a choice to go with a different religion,' he said.

According him, whenever the community wants to celebrate something, all the churches would be invited. For, instance, every year at Christmas they gather at the community hall to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.

'It is something I found being done and we have kept it going up to now,' he said.

Ironically, Esterhuizen does not refer to himself as a traditional leader of the community saying, 'I was only elected to this position anyway.  I was not draped in a leopard skin'.

Another member of the community David Mattys says their culture is thin.

'Basically we do not have a culture to identify with.

For example we do not have a totem. I have asked our chief what our totem is as that would define who we are but he said we did not have any,' Mattys said.

However, Mattys' observation is that the group has a unique way of greeting one another. He noted that no matter how many times people might have met on the day greetings are meted out every time they meet.

So when you are in Bokspits expect those goeiem™re (good morning), goeiemiddag (good afternoon) and goeienaands (good evening) several times in your day.

'It is just part of our life and I have observed with other ethnic groups who though they greet each other they do not do it as much as us and not as humble as well,' Mattys said.