Death, mourning and burial rites amongst the Khoisan people of Botswana: a comparative study

Abstract

Perceptions of death and burial practices in African societies vary from one ethnic group to the other. While in some societies they may be accompanied by different ritual performances and some period of mourning, in others they are not. This study discusses ways in which selected groups of Khoisan people in Botswana dealt with death and burial in their different societies in the past. The discussion will confine itself to the Shuakhwe of Kachikao and Lesoma and the Danisa of Nata and the Xhong of Bere. These groups were selected mainly because compared to others researched on they were more elaborate in their discussion of issues pertaining to death and burial in their societies. Taking a comparative approach, the study will draw similarities and differences in how these groups dealt with death, mourning and burial. It will further assess how co-existence with other ethnic groups of Botswana may have impacted on the traditional burial procedures of the Khoisan. Keywords: Death and burial, ritual, mourning, Khoisan tradition, cross-cultural influences.