The Griqua are an ethnic group in South Africa that has a history stretching back three hundred years. They are mostly of mixed origin with a combined ancestry among the original Khoi-San people of Southern Africa, the slaves from other parts of Africa and Asia, the black African people and the European Settlers. The Griqua history is said to have started with Adam Kok in 1740 who became the leader of a group of outcasts, living outside the government of the Cape Colony. (Balson: 2007)

Between 1801 and 1822 the Griqua people started settle at several mission stations, Klaarwater (Griquatown), Philoppolis and others in the same area. Here they were served by several clergy from the LMS. The British government ruling the Cape Colony at the time acknowledged the leadership of Kok family as Captains of their own people, and thus originating the Griqua captaincy.

Apartheid in South Africa during the twentieth century brought a great loss for the Griqua people as they were assimilated into the category known as ‘Coloured’. This brought about a loss of history and identity for many Griqua people.

Before Apartheid, at the beginning of the twentieth century (circa 1916), the then Griqua leader, A.A.S. Le Fleur were trying to establish an identity among the greater group known as the Coloured people. Le Fleur and his lineage played an important part in keeping Griqua identity alive during the extremely difficult time of Apartheid where the government of the day forced a highly complex group of people into one category with the famous “Group Areas Act”. The Griqua leaders never accepted these labels and insisted on keeping their own traditions alive.