Description:
Bantuid variety, similar to South Bantuid, but with weak Khoisan influence, placing it closer to Xhosaid. Developed as a result of the Bantu expansion when Bantu assimilated some older Khoisanid elements. Found especially in the eastern provinces of South Africa, e.g. Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State, also Lesotho and Southern Mozambique. Common in Fengu, Pondo, and Hlubi, but also in some neighbouring groups.Physical Traits:
Yellowish dark, sometimes medium brown skin, usually kinky, sometimes peppercorn hair. Rather tall, often mesoskelic, mesomorph to endomorph. Often mesocephalic, sometimes dolichocephalic, chamae- orthocranic with wider and lower skulls than other Bantuids. Platyrrhine, lips rather full. Prognathy modest, pseudo-Mongoloid eyes in a few cases.Literature:
The type was identified by Dart (1962) as the Fingo-Hlubi-Mpondo type (Group D), it is similar to his group B (Bhaca-Swazi-Zulu, c.p. South Bantuid), but with greater Khoisanid influence. Baker (1981) grouped (Ama)pondo in Kafrid, Eickstedt (1934) in South Bantuid.
