Roy Sesana
Encyclopedia
Roy Sesana is a Bushman
activist
who works together with the First People of the Kalahari
for the rights of his tribe.
in the central Kalahari
and works as a traditional medicine man. He moved to South Africa
for a couple of years, but returned to his people in 1971 in order to live together with them in the desert. In 1991, he co-founded the First People of Kalahari (FPK)
together with John Hardbattle
, which intensively promotes the traditional way of life, protecting the nature. In 1997, a small group of Bushmen still living in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve
were resettled to the new built town of New Xade. The government claimed that this was a result of a mutual understanding that the continued presence of the group within the reserve was in conflict with the preservation of the game reserve. The government also claimed that it could not provide the group with basic infrastructure and services while they were within the reserve for the same reasons. A group of Bushmen represented by First People of the Kalahari refused to move, citing difficult conditions in the new settlement, the unfamiliar way of life they had to adjust to and many new social ills such as unemployment, alcoholism and diseases, especially HIV-AIDS.
In 2002, the First People of the Kalahari took the Government of Botswana
to court to seek the right for the relocated people to return to the reserve. The protracted court case attracted substantial international attention. On December 13, 2006, Botswana's High Court ruled in the Bushmen's favour, stating that the evictions were unlawful and unconstitutional.
In September 2005, Sesana was arrested for "rioting" and attempting to "forcibly enter the Central Kalahari Game Reserve", but was released a couple of days later.
In December 2005, he received the Right Livelihood Award
for "resolute resistance against eviction from their ancestral lands, and for upholding the right to their traditional way of life."
Bushmen
The indigenous people of Southern Africa, whose territory spans most areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, are variously referred to as Bushmen, San, Sho, Barwa, Kung, or Khwe...
activist
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
who works together with the First People of the Kalahari
First People of the Kalahari
First People of Kalahari is a local Bushman advocacy organization in Botswana, working for the rights of the indigenous tribe of San, that had been forced by the Government of Botswana to resettle to the new built town of New Xade....
for the rights of his tribe.
Biography
Sesana lives in New XadeNew Xade
New Xade is a village located in the central part of the Ghanzi District of Botswana. The population was 930 in 2001 census.-A Relocation Settlement:...
in the central Kalahari
Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa extending , covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa, as semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains. The Kalahari supports more animals and plants than a true desert...
and works as a traditional medicine man. He moved to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
for a couple of years, but returned to his people in 1971 in order to live together with them in the desert. In 1991, he co-founded the First People of Kalahari (FPK)
First People of the Kalahari
First People of Kalahari is a local Bushman advocacy organization in Botswana, working for the rights of the indigenous tribe of San, that had been forced by the Government of Botswana to resettle to the new built town of New Xade....
together with John Hardbattle
John Hardbattle
John Qace Hardbattle was one of the best-known Bushman activists in Botswana. "Son of a half-Bushman mother, Khwa, and an English father, Tom Hardbattle", John Hardbattle co-founded and became leader of the First People of Kalahari .-Early life:John Hardbattle served in the British army, studied...
, which intensively promotes the traditional way of life, protecting the nature. In 1997, a small group of Bushmen still living in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Central Kalahari Game Reserve is an extensive national park in the Kalahari desert of Botswana. Established in 1961 it covers an area of 52,800 km² making it the second largest game reserve in the world.The park contains wildlife such as giraffe, brown hyena, warthog, cheetah, wild dog,...
were resettled to the new built town of New Xade. The government claimed that this was a result of a mutual understanding that the continued presence of the group within the reserve was in conflict with the preservation of the game reserve. The government also claimed that it could not provide the group with basic infrastructure and services while they were within the reserve for the same reasons. A group of Bushmen represented by First People of the Kalahari refused to move, citing difficult conditions in the new settlement, the unfamiliar way of life they had to adjust to and many new social ills such as unemployment, alcoholism and diseases, especially HIV-AIDS.
In 2002, the First People of the Kalahari took the Government of Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
to court to seek the right for the relocated people to return to the reserve. The protracted court case attracted substantial international attention. On December 13, 2006, Botswana's High Court ruled in the Bushmen's favour, stating that the evictions were unlawful and unconstitutional.
In September 2005, Sesana was arrested for "rioting" and attempting to "forcibly enter the Central Kalahari Game Reserve", but was released a couple of days later.
In December 2005, he received the Right Livelihood Award
Right Livelihood Award
The Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
for "resolute resistance against eviction from their ancestral lands, and for upholding the right to their traditional way of life."
External links
- First People of the Kalahari - Official website
- Biography on Right Livelihood Award website
- Right Livelihood AwardRight Livelihood AwardThe Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
acceptance speech