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Characteristics
The Khoikhoi's society is hierarchial, which is any system of persons or things ranked one above the other
(dictionary.com). They have classes that the people of the Khoikhoi are put into. The ones that own stocks are considered
wealthy and everybody else, who do not own stocks are considered as servants. When a family owns "domestic animals" they call
themselves Khoikhoi, but when they have "lost stock and [have] to revert to living off veldkos" they consider themselves as
Soaqua (khoisan.org).
Work according to the Khoikhoi
When it came to work the Khoikhoi had different views of what women and men should do.
Caring for the cattle is considered mens work and caring for the small livestock is considered womens work (iamshaman.com).
You may say that the men of the Khoikhoi had it easy, but they really had other things that you would think the women of the
house would have to do. During the day the men of the Khoikhio would stay in the house, or kraal, and "manufactor utensils
and weapons" (iamshaman.com). Those were considered "domestic chores" (ianshaman.com).
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| Men are the ones that take care of the cattle. It's the manly job. |
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| Cattle are not considered product to the Khoikhoi. |
Wealth among the Khoikhoi
Having wealth is very important among the Khoikhoi. In order for wealthy stock owners to prove
that they are rich, they must provide enough food for a feast that they must host. In order to have enough food for everyone,
they must have a very large stock. Therefore, stocks play a very important role in the wealth of a stock owner.
Today among the Khoikhio
Today among the Khoikhoi sharing food, or stock is a very important aspect of the village life (encarta.msn.com).
When a family kills a sheep or a cattle, it is necessary for everyone present at the feast to eat it.
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