The festive season has become synonymous with celebration, food, drinks, reconnecting with family as well as gift giving.

Prof Alan Fowler the Honorary Professor in African Philanthropy at the University of the Witwatersrand has over the years undertaken various studies looking at where gifting came from as a human behavior, and its history in Africa. 

He says while gifting began in Africa, when the first humans like emerged, it then evolved as people migrated and was adapted to fit different cultures. Early examples of these involved the transfer of cattle or women to seal relationships between groups.

 He joins spoke to Peter Ndoro to share more.