Book

Hunter and habitat in the central Kalahari desert

Cambridge University Press • Cambridge • Published In 1981 • Pages:

By: Silberbauer, George B..

Abstract

This source is a study of the interrelationships between population, sociocultural organization, and habitat among the Gwi San of the central Kalahari Desert in Botswana. The study begins with a brief history of the Gwi and an interesting account of the author's fieldwork experience among the Gwi. Following this, the author discusses in detail the nature of the Kalahari environment, the features of Gwi religious beliefs and ideas about nature, man, and society, the features of Gwi social organization, and the characteristics of Gwi economy. More specifically, the discussion of Gwi social organization examines band organization and composition, band politics and leadership, kinship and marriage, household organization and relationships, and interband relationships. In the discussion of Gwi economy the author examines band territoriality and Gwi subsistence pattern, material culture and industrial arts, exchange, and work and leisure. The study concludes with the author's synthesis of the above material and his understanding of and conclusions about Gwi socioecology.

HRAF PubDate

2005

Region

Africa

Sub Region

Southern Africa

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Types

Ethnographer

Government Official

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Gerald Reid ; 1988

Field Date

1958-1966

Coverage Date

1958-1966

Coverage Place

Gwi, Ghanzi District, Botswana

Notes

George B. Silberbauer

Most of the information in the conclusion is indexed for subjects 105 and 182 and other pertinent categories, such as 164, 181, 222, 224, 361, 571, 592, 621, and 628. Theoretical background material for the author's synthesis and his conclusions about hunter-gatherers based on his analysis of the Gwi (primarily pp. 258-260, 298-299, 300-304) are indexed for Category 121. Information on the Kalahari ecosystem (pp. 260-264) is filed in Category 13. Information on Gwi nutrition (pp. 274-275) is indexed for Categories 182 and 146 and information relating to Gwi physiology (pp. 275-277) is filed in Category 147. Information on Gwi marriage and demography (pp. 285-291) is indexed primarily for Categories 182 and 582 and the 160 categories.The Gwi live in the Kade area, where Sugawara and Tanaka also carried out their fieldwork (See documents nos. 23, 25, 27, 41, and 42.)

Includes bibliographical references (p. 305-317) and index

LCCN

80016768

LCSH

San (African people)