The Bushman Myth, Vol. 2 Book

This book is a balanced thesis on the idea of Bushman; addressing both what various outside groups think about them, and what they think about themselves. The politics from the German-annexed state of Namibia, Bechuanaland Protectorate (before it became the country of Botswana), and the Republic of South Africa, definitely influenced the population number, relocation of, and protection of, "traditional homeland." Something I was really surprised to find is that, even among the so-called "bushmen" themselves, they do not agree on which tribes "belong," and what they call themselves, or their language; for example, !Kung can also be called something else.

I never saw the movie, "The Gods Must Be Crazy," but I do remember my grandma talking about it; she laughed, and thought the opening scene of the coke can falling was really funny, like serendipity; in reality, though, the author explains the political connotation that the filmmakers had, and how the Southern Africans viewing the film would understand it to be a subversive statement, not just something funny. A great, insightful look into the peoples most native to the Kalahari, where, for a short time, I was privileged to make my home.