The San Bushmen of Kalahari

An indigenous community’s campaign to retain their land and way of life in Botswana.

The San Bushmen are traditionally hunter-gatherers, part of the Khoisan group, in the Kalahari desert

In 1970 Botswana ranked as one of the poorest countries on earth. Then diamonds were discovered, now accounting for over 30 per cent of the GDP.

But the Botswanian government fears that reserves will soon run out – they are only expected to last for another 35 years.

Their fears have led to the forced eviction of Botswana’s sizeable indigenous population from the Kalahari region.

But it has not proved easy. The San Bushmen of Kalahari are determined to protect their land and way of life.

People & Power explore the extraordinary success story of an illiterate indigenous people who took on their government.

Watch this episode of People & Power here:

Part 1:

Part 2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8eUgXHCD4c

This episode of People & Power aired from Sunday 12 August 2007

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