Last of the San Bushmen

Across the arid lands of the Northern Cape, along endless red sand dune ridges there exist a people whose presence upon these lands have witnessed a thousand centuries never changing. Yet here, upon those forgotten lands along the dried up Auob river there is life as it has been forever. A people tied spiritually and physically to the health and wealth of these Greatlands of the Kgalagadi desert. During my precious time with the Khoi San people (bushmen) it was clear that generationally this is perhaps the last generation of Khoi San upholding and maintaining a traditional life away from western influence. Some nights when I sit alone a part of me cries. I can still hear their melodic voices sharing stories of their day with elders and children huddled around a fire, their faces shadowed by the flickering flame. With the sun long set I watch as their hand gestures along with heads adorned with antlers of tiny animals’ silhouette upon the horizon. A people whose future remains uncertain.