Africa is home to many tribes and some of these indigenous Tribes are traced back to the first human groups in Africa. They have DNA components unique to them and their languages are ancient and very unique.
Among the old tribes left in the world today, the San Bushmen are the oldest tribe in Africa. They are known to be between 100,000 to 140,000 years old. They are found in Southern African countries like Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Angola, Zambia, Namibia, and South Africa. They have a population of around 90,000 people. They are said to be directly related to the original human groups. The San people are known for the cave and rock art found in the southern parts of Africa. Some of the art is dated back a thousand years.
The San people were migratory- they stayed in one place for a short period of time. They are known to have immense knowledge of flora and fauna, knowing each plant’s medicinal and nutritional value and use. Their sharp hunting skills made the San people good at tracking. They speak with a clicking sound which makes their language outstanding and indigenous. It is said that most of the human beings in the world share the original genetic composition of the San people. After the migration of the other people they grew and became diverse in terms of language and culture.
The people have now withdrawn to hide from the exploitation of archeologists, genealogists, and anthropologists. The colonial era disrupted the nomadic lifestyle of the San and the increase in hunters destroyed their staple food, game meat. Enslavement during the same period also made the tribe hide away and keep their identity hidden. Due to their isolation, the San people have maintained their way of living and culture. They have not interacted with the modern people hence, they have maintained their original ways of doing things.
How Old Is The Oldest African Tribe?
The San bushmen tribe has been living for 30,000 years in southern Africa. They are known to be Africa’s oldest tribe in the world. Their DNA places them as the next descendants of the first humans – the Homo sapiens.
Some of the human skeletal remains buried during the stone age are similar to those of the 20th century San people. Some of the tools used by the San people in the current time are similar to the tools that were made by the humans of the stone age. The San’s clicky language also suggests that they are very ancient because the language was used in the stone age period, therefore, placing them among the oldest tribes to exist.
These pieces of evidence point out that the San are ancient and are probably among the oldest tribes to exist in the world.
Did All Humans Come From Africa?
Genetic studies suggest that all humans draw their ancestry to one point in Africa. The DNA and fossils found in Africa show that humans arose from Africa 200,000 to 300,000 years ago. The earliest and oldest Homo sapiens fossils are found across Africa. The humans are then known to have spread from one point in Africa and then later moved to the Middle East.
Over time, human beings spread to different regions of the world. The differences in the geographical areas affected the physical features of the humans in the specific regions, hence bringing the differences between the people from the environments.
As the humans spread, they mixed the original genes with other species like the Homo erectus and the Homo Neanderthals, therefore, forming a new species and diverse human forms. Africa is also known to have evidence of ancestral human beings through fossils. Archeologists identified early humans by their specific characteristics and point out the human population migrating from one point in Africa. Even though the migration did not happen all at once.
Was The Garden Of Eden In Africa?
Studies have shown that the Garden of Eden can be traced to Botswana, Africa. From the Bible, the Garden of Eden was the place where all humans are believed to have originated. It is said that the place was green and robust before the climate changed and became part of the Kalahari Desert after close to 70,000 years had gone.
This change in the climate forced the people who lived in the area to migrate and find other areas to inhabit. It is believed that there was a very large lake of around 10 million square kilometers called Lake Makgadikgadi. The lake was found in Botswana and extended to Namibia and Zimbabwe. The lake made the area very lush with plants and trees of every kind where the early humans lived and thrived. This was interrupted by the change in climate and the people were forced to leave and find other areas to live.
DNA studies of the people from the countries that the lake was found in and near the supposed Garden of Eden show that they have the same DNA. This DNA is passed from mother to child and stays the same for generations without being affected by time.
This draws the conclusion that the Garden of Eden was in Africa and that Africa was the cradle of all humans.
Why Is Africa Called The Motherland?
Motherland is a place of origin or a place of return. It forms a vital part of someone’s identity and creates a sense of belonging. Africa is commonly referred to as the Motherland because it is the place where the oldest civilization originated. It is also the home of human evolution. Human ancestors are known to have lived in Africa for more than 5 million years. Africa is also known as the Motherland because it has more countries than any other continent on Earth.
The Garden of Eden is also said to have been in Africa, forming the basis and foundation of the origin of humankind. The presence of ancient fossils in African countries also qualifies it as the origin of mankind. Therefore, Africa is the motherland of the world’s population.