Footsteps of Our Ancestors

By Tlou Setumu

This book is an overview of South Africa’s past stories, using the Blouberg-Makgabeng-Senwabarwana (BMS) area as reference point. The mighty Limpopo River and its beautiful, lush valleys and the salty Soutpansberg; the majestic Blouberg Mountains; and the historic Makgabeng plateau – all these landmarks were once inhabited by representatives and forebears of almost all South Africa’s population groups: the San, the Khoikhoi, Bantu-speaking communities, European travelers, traders, explorers, missionaries, as well as the colonial settlers: the Boers and the British. The BMS area is therefore a microcosm of South Africa’s history as it was in various stages inhabited by different groups. Therefore, this work traces South Africa’s past using the BMS area as a focal point.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tlou Setumu
• Release date: Jul 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463275337

Tlou Setumu

Tlou Setumu was born, grew up and went to school in the rural, impoverished Makgabeng area in the north-western part of Limpopo Province, South Africa. He started Sub-A at Noko-Tlou lower primary in 1972, and proceeded to Mogohlong higher primary, then matriculated in 1983 at GH Franz high school.Owing to his poor family background (he was raised by a single, sickly mother), he did not have funds to continue with higher education studies. He became private teacher and was self-taught as he studied privately until obtaining BA degree in 1993 with University of South Africa (UNISA).In 1994 he enrolled and completed Higher Education Diploma at the University of the North (current University of Limpopo). He obtained BA Honours at UNISA in 1998, and in 2001 completed MA degree at the University of Pretoria. He enrolled for PhD degree in History at Rand Afrikaanse Universiteit (currently University of Johannesburg), but later moved the programme to the University of Limpopo, where the programme was completed in 2010.He had started as a volunteer for the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), and then worked as researcher from 2001. He established Limpopo Heritage Resources Authority (LIHRA) in 2004 while employed in the Limpopo Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. He later worked at the Robben Island museum as Head of the Department of Public Heritage Education. He is currently heritage practitioner in Limpopo Province, specialising mainly on the Blouberg-Makgabeng-Senwabarwana (BMS) area. (www.mak-herp.co.za).

Book preview

Footsteps of Our Ancestors

The Blouberg-Makgabeng-Senwabarwana (BMS) area as a case study

By Dr. Tlou Setumu

©

Copyright 2019 Dr. Tlou Setumu

Smashwords Edition

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prologue

1. Environment

2.The San: earliest inhabitants

3. The Khoikhoi

4.Bantu-speaking communities

5.First European appearances

6.Rulers of the land

7.Clash of cultures: western missionaries vs African ways of life

8.African kingdoms lose their freedom

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PROLOGUE

This book is an overview of South Africa’s past stories, using the Blouberg-Makgabeng-Senwabarwana (BMS) area as reference point. The mighty Limpopo River and its beautiful, lush valleys and the salty Soutpansberg; the majestic Blouberg Mountains; and the historic Makgabeng plateau – all these landmarks were once inhabited by representatives and forebears of almost all South Africa’s population groups: the San, the Khoikhoi, Bantu-speaking communities, European travelers, traders, explorers, missionaries, as well as the colonial settlers: the Boers and the British.

The BMS area is therefore a microcosm of South Africa’s history as it was in various stages inhabited by different groups. Therefore, this work traces South Africa’s past using the BMS area as a focal point.

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CHAPTER 1

ENVIRONMENT

Thabanantlhana is one of the most salient and recognisable landmarks on the Makgabeng plateau.

The landscape of the BMS area consists of various environmental features. Limpopo River is one of the largest on the African continent. It stretches from the south-western end of the continent and rises to the north until it bends towards the east into the Indian Ocean, almost forming an n-shape. Soutpansberg Mountain is found on