Abstract:
This study, which, to a large extent, consists of reproductions of photographs taken by myself and drawings made by myself, is the outcome of two months' work among the Kwena tribe of Tamposstad, fifteen miles north-east of Groot Marico in the Transvaal (Map I) and the Kwena of Molepolole in Bechuanaland Protectorate, sixty-five miles by road from the border of the Transvaal at Ramoutsa (Map II).
It is a comparative study of the material culture of the scattered offshoots of the one tribe, which, in the remote past, must have lived at one place under the authority of one chief.
This type of work is not entirely a new experience to the writer, for he has lived in close proximity to the Kwena of Tamposstad and allied tribes - the Kgatla and Hurutshe - for many years. Moreover he has learnt a great deal of their language through personal contact with these people.
Tamposstad is chosen as representing the Transvaal-Kwena because it is a fairly large reserve (25,551 morgen) with about nine thousand people living in the village, and because the little that is left of the indigenous Kwena native arts and crafts of the Transvaal, is mostly preserved among the people of this village. In all the other Kwena-villages in the Transvaal, the traditional arts and crafts have almost altogether disappeared.
When reference is made therefore, in this study, to the Transvaal Kwena, it must be understood that the Kwena of Tamposstad are mainly designated, although other villages will also sometimes be mentioned.
This is an attempt to preserve in type-script a record of what is still left of the Kwena indigenous material culture, of the material and implements used and of the methods of construction, for erelong, the last survivals of this most interesting culture will be completely obliterated by the overwhelming European influence, a fact which we deeply lament. The visitor to the Native Agricultural Shows cannot help but realise this. At the Native Show which was held ten miles north of Rustenburg on the 10th and 11th of August 1939, it was noted with regret that the arts and crafts section was very poorly represented. The articles exhibited were excellently made, but they were the work of only a few people. The whole exhibition of claypots, for example, was the work of only two women.
As regards the historical part of this study, it was rather difficult to obtain trustworthy information, and thusfar, there is almost nothing recorded on the history of this tribe. Dr. I. Schapera, however, is at present busy compiling a work on the history of the Tswana tribes. The history given in this study, of the Bechuanaland Kwena, is an extract from "BaKwena origins" sent to my by Dr. Schapera, to whom, I am deeply indebted for permission to use this material.
The history of the Transvaal Kwena, also given in this study, is a result of my own investigations, and is reproduced as it was told to me, for comparative purposes. Of course it cannot be maintained that it is true in every detail. A detailed record of the history of the various Kwena tribes would provide matter for a thesis in itself.
