Language, Knowledge and Resilience: Climate Change Adaptation Efforts among the San in Tsholotsho, Zimbabwe

The San peoples of Southern Africa among the world’s oldest continuous cultures—are facing increasing vulnerability due to the impacts of climate change, including shifts in rainfall patterns, biodiversity loss, and land degradation. As traditionally nomadic hunter-gatherers, their adaptive knowledge systems are deeply intertwined with their languages, cultural practices, and environmental understanding. However, socio-political marginalization and language erosion threaten their ability to respond effectively to these challenges. This study explores how the Zimbabwean San in Tsholotsho use their Tshwao language and indigenous knowledge to navigate the impacts of climate change. It examines how these cultural resources, rooted in century-old traditions, inform adaptation efforts in the face of unpredictable weather patterns and other climate stressors. We draw on fieldwork and ethnographic interviews to highlight the role of oral traditions, local ecological knowledge, and unique linguistic expressions tied to the environment in shaping adaptive practices. The San community possesses a rich repertoire of adaptive strategies communicated through their indigenous language, such as detailed knowledge of plant species, animal behaviours and weather patterns that guide resource management and coping mechanisms. These include practices and communal decision-making processes that emphasise sustainability and cooperation. The study further reveals how traditional knowledge faces challenges from external pressures, including the erosion of language skills among younger generations, the impact of modernity and limited access to climate adaptation education in their indigenous language. We thus emphasise integrating indigenous languages into climate adaptation frameworks to enhance the effectiveness of resilience strategies and the preservation of indigenous knowledge for posterity.