For International Mother language Day let’s celebrate the Nyae Nyae Village school project, a small miracle of culturally-mediated education where the children of former hunter-gatherers in northern Namibia are learning to become paper people- that is their elders’ term for being reading- writing-literate.
IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.
LISTEN HERE
It’s a click language, one only 20-something remaining San languages spoken by the first people of southern Africa. And possibly of the world, according to current scientific thinking. Geneticists have found that the San have some of the most ancient gene signatures of living people. Dr Chris Low, of Oxford University, writes that
‘the lineage of the San in southern Africa stretches back to the origins of “modern humans”, at least 150,000 years ago.’
The well-known linguist, David Crystal believes that San-type languages are a linguistic marvel. They are unrelated to any other known family of languages. Where English has 31 sounds, San languages have 141.
If Khoisan [San] languages had all died out before linguists had described them, it is unlikely we would ever have guessed that human beings would use such an apparently minor feature of sound production to such complex effect.’ Crystal, D. 2002: 57
Thanks to the efforts of linguists (Patrick Dickens and Kerry Jones) anthropologists like Megan Biesele and educationalists like Melissa Heckler and Bruce Parcher, there is an othrography for Ju|’hoan, 5 primary schools, a community-illustrated Children’s dictionary in the mother tongue and some culturally-appropriate teaching resources. Native speakers have been assisted in their teacher training and two purpose-built schools with hostel facilities have been completed.
An increase in demand
School enrolment has more than trebled in the Nyae Nyae Conservancy. Another three schools, more trained teachers, desks, chairs and books are needed. If you would like donate directly to the Ju|’hoansi Development Fund who aim to help provide these things, you can do so here:
Or to the Kalahari People’s Fund, long-time supporters of San projects across the Kalahari desert.
Or, you could get yourself a good read and buy one of my Koba books, featuring a Ju|’hoan girl caught up in the tumult of Apartheid South Africa. Here’s why 100% of my income from books sales goes to support Ju|’hoan education:
Buy here and help me put food into the Nyae Nyae Village school hostels for pupils some of whom have a five-hour walk to school.
