THE SAN - AFRICAN TRIBE - 200,000BC
The Kalahari Desert
"The Khoe-San diverged from other populations more than 100,000 years ago but population structure within the Khoe-San dated back to about 35,000 years ago". (Schlebusch, C. et al. 2012). The study of the Khoe-San tribes DNA revealed, "The human population has been structured for a long time and it is possible that modern humans emerged from a non-homogeneous group". (University of Witwatersrand, 2012). This means, modern humans emerged from a variety of species, not just homoneandertal, homoerectus etc.
Does this finding support The Ancient Astronaut Theory of The Anunnaki 'creators'? Does it move closer towards the evolution theory advocated by Theosophy? Or, is this a Creation Theory separate in its own right?
THE SAN TRIBE's CREATION THEORY - 200,000 BC
As evening approached the sun began to sink beneath the horizon. The people and animals stood watching this phenomenon, but when the sun disappeared fear entered the hearts of the people. They could no longer see each other as they lacked the eyes of the animals which were capable of seeing in the dark. They lacked the warm fur of the animals also and soon grew cold. In desperation one man suggested that they build a fire to keep warm. Forgetting Kaang's warning they disobeyed him. They soon grew warm and were once again able to see each other. However the fire frightened the animals. They fled to the caves and mountains and ever since the people broke Kaang's command people have not been able to communicate with animals. Now fear has replaced the seat friendship once held between the two groups. The Bushmen of Africa believe that not only are plants and animals alive, but also rain, thunder, the wind, spring, etc. They claim: What we see is only the outside form or body. Inside is a living spirit that we cannot see. These spirits can fly out of one body into another. For example, a woman's spirit might sometime fly into a leopard; or a man's spirit fly into a lion's body. This may be part of the reason that animals play such an important role in their myth".
DEITIES
Tsui'goab is a sky deity associated with the phenomena of thunder and lightning. His name translates to "bloodied knee", and he is said to dwell in a red heaven located somewhere in the east, as opposed to Gaunab's black heaven.
Gaunab is a god of sickness and death who is locked in constant battle with Tsui'goab.
Utixo or "Tiqua" is the name used by missionaries as a translation for the Abrahamic God.
SPIRITUAL BELIEFS
Kaang (also known Cagn or Kaggen) is the Supreme Being of The San. He is the first being and the creator of the world. He is a trickster god who can shape-shift, most often into the praying mantis but also takes the form of a bull eland, a louse, a snake, and a caterpillar. Kaang is said to have created the moon which holds special significance to The San people. Their creation story is one that involves their ancestors residing in subterranean lands (i.e. underground).
People did not always live on the surface of the earth. At one time people and animals lived underneath the earth with Kaang, the Great Master and Lord of All Life. In this place people and animals lived together peacefully. They understood each other. No one ever wanted for anything and it was always light even though there wasn't any sun. During this time of bliss Kaang began to plan the wonders he would put in the world above.
First Kaang created a wondrous tree, with branches stretching over the entire country. At the base of the tree he dug a hole that reached all the way down into the world where the people and animals lived. After he had finished furnishing the world as he pleased he led the first man up the hole.
"There are many myths and stories about Kaang, including some where he defeats death. In one of the myths, he is eaten by an ogre and then vomited back up alive. In another, he is killed by the spiky thorns of an enemy and his bones are picked clean by ants. He then reassembles his skeleton and comes back to life. This death and return has some similarity with gods of other early religions. For example Osiris, god of the dead in Egypt, the Babylonian fertility deity Tammuz and Adonis in Greek mythology. Is it possible that any of them had some beginnings in Africa?" (E2BN, 2006).
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Coti is Kaang's wife. She gave birth to the eland, and Kaang hid it near a secluded cliff to let it grow.
Cogaz and Gewi are Kaang and Coti's children. Whilst they were out hunting, not knowing their father's love for the eland, they killed it. Kaang was angry, and told Gewi to put the blood from the dead eland into a pot and churn it. Blood spattered from the pot onto the ground and turned into snakes. Kaang was displeased. Next, Gewi scattered the blood, and it turned into hartebeests. Again, Kaang was unhappy. He told Coti to clean the pot and add more blood from the eland, with fat from the heart. She churned it, and Kaang sprinkled the mixture on the ground. It turned into a large herd of eland. This was how Kaang gave meat to his people to hunt and eat.
!Xu is considered a benevolent and omnipotent supreme being. He is also the sky god to whom the souls of the dead go. He is said to summon the magicians to their profession, and gives them supernatural powers. The San add that !Xu provides the rain and is invoked in illness, before hunting and before travelling.
Coti
Kaang
He sat down on the edge of the hole and soon the first woman came up out of it. Soon all the people were gathered at the foot of the tree, awed by the world they had just entered. Next, Kaang began helping the animals climb out of the hole. In their eagerness some of the animals found a way to climb up through the tree's roots and come out of the branches. They continued racing out of the world beneath until all of the animals were out.
Kaang gathered all the people and animals about him. He instructed them to live together peacefully. Then he turned to the men and women and warned them not to build any fires or a great evil would befall them. They gave their word and Kaang left to where he could watch his world secretly.
The San Tribe have a deep respect for all life - plants or animals. They believe that all living things, humans, animals and plants, are connected to one another. They believe that everything that is taken from nature must meet a need and should be no more than is required for the community.Every part of an animal that is hunted and killed is used. They have an in-depth knowledge of plants and their properties, not only for food but also for medicinal use. (E2BN, 2006).
Under the night sky, a Shaman can enter the spirit world through a 'trance dance' around a camp fire. The rest of the tribe members clap and sing whilst the Shaman dances around them. The Shaman then diagnoses who is sick and then heals them people. This is also how they make their living. When in a trance, a Shaman reports being able to transform into various animals/birds etc, and see other people and/or other parts of the world, as well as having the gift of healing.