Bondelswarts

/ˈbɒndəlzwɑːrts/ noun

Definition

A historical term for a Khoi people of South Africa, or a member of this group; historically used to describe pastoralists who resisted colonial authority.

Etymology

From Dutch 'Bondels' plus 'swarts' (meaning black or dark), a colonial-era designation for Khoi communities in southern Africa. The term reflects the Dutch and British colonial naming practices in the region.

Kelly Says

The Bondelswarts led famous armed resistance against colonial oppression in the early 1900s, most notably the Bondelswarts Rebellion of 1925—a remarkable moment when an indigenous group directly challenged military occupation, anticipating later anti-colonial movements.

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