WI: Austronesian South Africa

According to some estimates, the first Austronesians reached Madagascar as early as 300 BC, well before the Bantu peoples had expanded into southern Africa. Suppose that Austronesians had proceeded directly across the Mozambique Channel and followed the Agulhas Current down the African coast. As they ventured inland, they encountered only a sparse population of Khoisan foragers, who were as easily displaced by Austronesian taro-farmers as by Bantu pastoralists in OTL. The Bantu, in turn, were halted in their southward expansion by the presence of a large settled population, and so never penetrated south of the Limpopo region. The result was a stark racial and linguistic boundary between central and southern Africa, with the latter being essentially an extension of Oceania.

How would this difference of human geography alter the course of African history? In particular, how would it change the pattern of colonization, the slave trade, etc? And how might Austronesian culture have adapted itself to the African mainland?
 
I don't think the Austronesians would be able to displace the Khoisan. For starters, they won't have the same numbers as the Bantu farmers, which may lead to the Khoisan putting up a much stronger resistance. Secondly, they aren't as familiar with the land: the Bantu farmers didn't just rush to conquer willy-nilly, they settled in one place, and migrated southward in small increments in response to growing numbers, not really exploring on a scale like the sailing Austronesians.

That said, it's an interesting idea. Austronesian farmers could live side by side with the Khoisan at first due to their small numbers. The two groups could intermarry to some degree, but I think that the farmers would stick to moist areas while the Khoisan could live quite comfortably in upland areas. They will coexist, rather than displace each other.

Eventually, the Bantu will arrive with cattle and yams, and that will be a game changer. I think the Bantu and the Austronesians will be the ones who will be mainly in conflict over land; the Khoisan can live on land less useful for farming, and so will be able to co-exist.

Eventually, through peace and war, the Bantus, Austronesians, and Khoisan will all mix together, leaving a southern Africa where what we would call 'Asian' facial features are more prevalent in the population, and with more widespread rice and taro agriculture.
 
Perhaps a geographic split, with the interior and west retaining traditional Austronesian beliefs and the eastern coast adopting Islam.
 
Perhaps a geographic split, with the interior and west retaining traditional Austronesian beliefs and the eastern coast adopting Islam.

Why would the East Coast adopt Islam?

Islam never made it as far as South Africa, it was only introduced by Malays brought by the Dutch in the 1600s, and then Muslim traders who came in the 1860s.

I doubt an Austronesian SA would have a significant Islamic influence.
 
The austronesian crop package is tropical. Southern Africa is mediterranean. So, no, they wouldnt do well there.

Thats partly also why the Bantu didnt advance there for about a thousand years or so, iirc.
 
The austronesian crop package is tropical. Southern Africa is mediterranean. So, no, they wouldnt do well there.

Unless the Austronesian "package" adapted to the African environment. IIRC the original Polynesian settlers had the same problem with New Zealand, as the climate there was not really suitable for stuff like taro. Yet they survived and became the Maori. Something similar could also happen here.
 
Unless the Austronesian "package" adapted to the African environment. IIRC the original Polynesian settlers had the same problem with New Zealand, as the climate there was not really suitable for stuff like taro. Yet they survived and became the Maori. Something similar could also happen here.

Maori, whose agriculture was marginal on North Island and almost useless on South Island? Remember, they wete expanding into virgin, uninhabited land.

Going up against KhoiSan pastoralists or even hunter gatherers who know their land intimately? Really, really doubt it.

If the Bantu couldnt do it for ages, why would a couple of boat loads of immigrants with a worse fitting package be able to?
 
The austronesian crop package is tropical. Southern Africa is mediterranean. So, no, they wouldnt do well there.
Only western South Africa is Mediterranean. The Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal are (fairly) subtropical summer rainfall areas, and the Austronesian crops would probably do well there. They would still be restricted to areas with sufficient rainfall.
 
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