The role of archives in the documentation of oral traditions, a case of the San people in Tsholotsho and Plumtree

The Tshwao or San people, formally known as Bushmen, are believed to have been the first people to settle in what is known as Zimbabwe today. The migration of the agriculturalist ethnic groups, especially the Ndebele and Kalanga kingdoms, into their territory has affected their social way of life. It has led to forced assimilation, marginalization and dispossession of their land, including their rock paintings and denial of land rights. This has meant that they have lost most of their cultural values and identity, most notably their language, land and religion. There is therefore an urgent need to document the activities of the San people in order to salvage their cultural activities. Various cultural activities of the San people are connected to their land. Their religion is connected to particular land, for example Matopo and Njelele. This land has been taken away from their control, meaning their religion has been compromised. The San are generally nomadic and more inclined to a gathering and hunting lifestyle. The fact that they can no longer move around because of resettlements of the Kalanga and Ndebele people on their land has disturbed this way of life. This article is based on the use of oral history interviews in collecting data. Purposive sampling will be done so that specifically targeted San people will be interviewed in such a way that they tell their life histories. Literature regarding the San people will also be reviewed.