In the words of John Hemingway, “If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa.”

 

In 2010 I experienced that very magic of Africa for the first time - in Namibia. Namibia is a land of extremes and lovingly referred to as ‘The land God made in anger’. It’s a country of extreme drought mixed with rich natural heritage, extreme poverty in parts blended with vivid culture.

 

One such culture that gripped my attention and imprinted my soul is that of the Ju/’hoansi, the San people. Their knowledge and wisdom about the natural world transcend the ordinary, it’s beyond encyclopedic - born from being the world’s most ancient culture. Their roots lie in the past when Africa was abundant with wildlife and tribal know-how. Their myths and legends are intertwined with the present and, we can only hope, will extend into the future.

 

The acumen of the San is crucial to their survival in a country only sporadically blessed by rain, in a land whose harshness is magnificent but lethal. To survive in such an environment for tens of thousands of years is only possible when holding the hand of Mother Nature herself. The San are at one with the earth, their connection with the natural world innately interspersed within their DNA.

 

The volatility of Africa demands that, to survive, mistakes are avoided. The tenderness and understanding of the San for all things wild and inherent to nature have allowed them to gently walk on this planet for millennia, survival part of their unique genetic framework.

 

I travelled back to Namibia many times to acquire just a fraction of the San’s fantastic skills and knowledge. Each time they taught me more and more. Tragically, I also recognised that their knowledge is on the brink - the brink of disappearing. This realisation inspired me to capture the magic of the San while it still permeates the African air, to document their stories and encapsulate a knowledge that should never be lost. This book is an ode to a people who should inherit the earth.

 

It’s not only about what we want in our lifetime, it’s about the generations that come next.