hotttavat

Hottentots or Hottavats are a term that was historically used to refer to the native Khoikhoi people of South Africa. The term was popularized by European colonizers and missionaries in the 17th century, and was later adopted by the African National Congress as a derogatory term to refer to the indigenous people.

The term is often attributed to the Khoikhoi people's unfamiliar customs and language to European settlers. The Khoikhoi traditionally spoke languages such as Khoekhoe and Khoe, which were significantly different from the languages spoken by other Bantu-speaking groups in the region.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the term Hottentot was used by European scientists and travelers to describe the Khoikhoi, along with other neighboring groups, such as the San people. This term was often used to emphasize the perceived physical and cultural differences between these groups and the dominant European population.

Today, the term Hottentot is widely considered to be derogatory and outdated. It is no longer used in academic or popular discourse to refer to the Khoikhoi people, who are now recognized as a distinct ethnic group with their own language, culture, and history. Instead, the term is often used to highlight the problematic nature of colonial and missionary activities in South Africa, and their ongoing impact on the lives of indigenous peoples.