Are there any Pygmy or Khoisan communities outside their traditional African homelands? What about individuals? Is it possible to see a member of either of these ethnic groups walking the streets of London or New York or Tokyo?
I met a man of Khoisan descent on an Amtrak train trip once. Having been raised in the US and attired in western clothing he appeared to be a short black man, but not excessively so, with maybe some Asian in him (Khoisan have epicanthic folds, as do some of the Celts, it’s not always a sign of Asian ancestry). There are some differences between them and the rest of Africa, but it’s not like people will be pointing and staring at them on the street.
I’m not aware of any communities as such, but certainly individuals of those ethnic groups have traveled extensively. The “Hottentot Venus” of the 19th Century was a Khoisan woman who traveled several European countries.
I probably should have phrased my question differently. I didn’t mean “Are there any Hottentots around to gawk at?” What I meant was “Is it possible to meet a member of either ethnic group outside Africa in the course of one’s normal day-to-day life?” In the case of the Khoisan it sounds like the answer is “Yes.”
By “differences”, you mean things that a typical American would notice while walking down the street. But that’s just because most Americans aren’t very educated on that subject. Ask a biologist or a linguist, though, and you’d get a very different answer.
In the case of Khoisan people, definitely “Yes” - certainly I know of several in London, a couple in New York, one in Tokyo. Also, some in New Zealand, a handful in Sydney, one in Berlin and one in Osaka. And that’s just (the khoekhoen branch of) my family and some of my friends’.
Not too much of a hijack, I hope:
Is it known whether or not Nelson Mandela has any Khoisan ancestors? I kind of see it in his eyes … not sure if I’m on the right track or not.
Yes, he does - he was part of some genetics mapping project a while ago. Lots of Xhosa have some Khoisan genetic markers, apparently.
Is that how he found out? I may be remembering incorrectly, but I thought he had known he had Khoisan ancestry.
BTW, how do you (and I actually mean you, not the generic “you”) pronounce “Xhosa”? I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone pronounce it who should know how it is properly pronounced, and I can’t even begin to guess…
True.
I had noticed that he had some unusual characteristics and politely inquired as to his background. That’s how I found out his background.
I think that’s how he confirmed it, but it was generally accepted that there had been intermarriage along the edges, enhanced at times by Khoekhoen rebels taking refuge from whites by fleeing into Xhosa lands. There’s a distinct yellowish skin cast and features of nose and eyefolds that are characteristic, and it decreases the further away from the old border regions one moves.
the Xh in Xhosa is pronounced with a sideways click - it’s the one you make to horses, with your tongue in cheek not against your front teeth, if that helps. More of a “Donk!” click than a “Tsk!” click is how I think of it. The Wiki article has a soundfile that sounds about right, although not as “clicky” as I (or anyone I know) does it. I’m not a Xhosa speaker, but my wife is. Funny, that, her being the white one…