The Economics of Social Life among the Central Kalahari San (G/7anakhwe and G/wikhwe) in the Sedentary Community at!Koi!komi)

Hunter-gatherer societies all over the World are currently undergoing prof6und transformations both in terms of economy and social organisation. The San of the harsh and dry Kalahari Desert, are no exception. In this paper I shall try to elucidate some essential features of the economic and social transformations of the life Of the GVanakhwe and G/wikhwe San in the sedentary community at!Koi!kom in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana. Since 1979, this area has undergone rapid change as a result of the Remote Area Development Programme (RADP) pushed forward by the government which has encouraged people to settle around the!Koi!kom borehole. Since 1981 under 'the guidance of the RADP, both the San and the Kgalagadi people living in other areas outside of tKade have begun to migrate to!Koi!kom. The people have settled into about 20 camps around the borehole and have become dependent on maize flour supplied by the government. Gathering of wild plants has declined, and the traditional bow-and-arrow hunting has been replaced by group hunting on horseback. This recent process of change in the life and society of the Central Kal,ahari San has been described in some detail by Tanaka {1987]2). I will begin･by briefly examining group membership before turning to a consideration of the composition and derivation of people's belongings, including goats. I will then turn to q consideration of some aspects of social relations and cultural values in the sedentary situation. Drawing on conversational analysis3) I highlight some points of tension between the difiierent language speakers now thrown together and the way in which the perpetuation of the formalised extra-marital relationship underlines the continuing significance of economic mutualism