Africa my home.

Our ancestral history is rich and well documented by African historians, scholars, linguists and scientists alike. We can rejoice that our migratory history will never be lost or misunderstood.

Our history can be confirmed using three key methods, which I am calling 'The Trifecta'

Language
We pride ourselves as Africans, in our ability to pass our history down through our generations linguistically. This is evident when you look at the similarities in the proto-Bantu language group. These languages originating from sub-equatorial Africa all have common roots, and are evident today in the Zulu, Tswana and Xhosa languages. The Nguni/Bantu history of migration and expansion southwards into Mzansi has been traced linguistically, and was passed diligently down through the millennia, and is a notable part of the proto-Bantu language group's history.

There are aspects of the ancient Khoe and Khoisan languages that were adopted by the Xhosa and Tswana. The Xhosa, Tswana and Zulu all were part of the migration southwards. When the Xhosa & Tswana settled, they adopted parts of the local indigenous Khoe and Khoisan languages, which is evident in their language today. This assimilation of the indigenous tribal language is an indication of the Bantu-speaking tribes acceptance and respect for the local Khoi and Khoisan traditions, and recognition of their rich ancient linguistic history, which they preserved.

There were also Khoe and Khoisan who were not assimilated into Bantu-speaking tribes that maintained their strong linguistic traditions, and who remained relatively isolated and independent, both linguistically, culturally, and genetically. It is these proud indigenous Africans who are the closest in connection to our most ancient of ancestors, who are seeking an opportunity for self determination & recognition in society today. We should rejoice in their celebration of their identity.

Art
In addition to linguistics, there are an overwhelming number of occurrences of rock art and engravings by the indigenous inhabitants. Mural art has been found in Drakensberg caves as old as 3,600 years ago. Similar art has been found in Namibia that were 26000 years old. The attached map shows all the locations where the indigenous Khoisan population left their art. The Khoisan were prolific artists, perpetuating their history proudly, setting their feet solidly in Mzansi's history with every colourful shape they painted.

Science
A recent study looked at 420,000 genetic variants across 1,462 genomes from 48 ethnic groups. “These analyses reveal that Southern African Khoisans are genetically distinct not only from Europeans and Asians, but also from all other Africans".

Previous research has also suggested that Khoisan people may be directly descended from mankind's oldest common paternal ancestors. DNA studies in the 1990s, found that the Y chromosome of San men, one of the indigenous populations making up the Khoisan, share certain patterns of genetic variation that are different from those of all other populations. It was theorised that the San are one of the first populations to have differentiated from the most recent common paternal ancestor of all extant humans, estimated to have lived 60,000 to 90,000 years ago.

Other studies show evidence of western eurasian genomes that migrated south with the Khoi-Kwedi, thousands of years before the large Bantu migration southwards. This poses an interesting question as to euro-asian claim to being a participant in the underlying genetic foundation of the oldest of African ancients, and to their claim of Africa as their ancestral home, when viewed chronologically, and through the DNA lens, has potential merit.

In Conclusion
Our African history is rich and diverse in language, art and science. There is overwhelming evidence that the Khoisan are strongly connected by genetic traceability to the most ancient of Africans.

It is possible the Bantu/Nguni that encountered the Khoisan realised they had an especially strong connection to our lineage as Africans, and assimilated them to strengthen the diversity of our people, and trying to hold close that which we treasure most.

Either way, it is clear that we have validation we are all closely anchored to this African soil, we are more diverse than we ever realised, and we are exponentially stronger as a result.

We can all can assured, that regardless of skin-colour, culture or traditions, or what 'part of the world' we are from, we are all fundamentally connected to the Khoisan.

For those seeking opportunities for self determination & recognition as indigenous Africans, we all are part Khoisan, and all proudly share Mzansi as our ancestral home.

We should all rejoice in holding the KhoiSan high as our sacred indigenous people, the most treasured resource as an African nation, since their flesh, blood, and spirit are one with the heartbeat and soul of Mother Africa.

We must start placing our energy into building Mzansi, leveraging our diversity as a point of strength, and avoid transforming our country into a place our descendants will want to flee.

Let us make our ancestors proud by transforming Mzansi into a loving, nurturing, fruitful, dynamic and innovative place, an ultimate trifecta of language, art and science, sewn together with the wizened fingers of diversity, strength and unity.

Menzi Solomon Shange

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[Menzi Shange is an African writer, blogger, artist, activist, and business owner. He lives in Gauteng, and is well known as an ardent spokesperson for equality and for demanding accountability by the ANC in proactively addressing Mzansi's social & economic ails.

Mr. Shange relentlessly pursues the upliftment of millions of poor, disadvantaged and exploited people. This includes his concerns about the marginalization of the Khoi & San, the original indigenous inhabitants of Mzansi, who have been ignored and sidelined by the African National Congress, due to their legitimate claim for recognition.

Mr. Shange feels strongly that a new fight for freedom from the deplorable ANC government, and the extraction of Mzansi from the toxic corruption, prejudice, and bumbling government ineptitude, is key to Mzansi's fight for self determination & freedom]