San hunter gatherer people were the first known inhabitants of Africa. Many people today believe that the San people/tribes and there culture no longer exist. They live as a forgotten tribe in the imagination of the world. They were the first artists, the first storytellers, the first custodians of nature in Africa. Theirs was a life of harmony with creation, the animals and seasons, with the continuity of ideas and nature passed on from generation to generation.
The San (also known as Bushman) knew their Creator Father God had given them this land and lived in a land filled with abundance - eland, giraffe, rhinoceros, elephants and veld food - everything they needed. Then everything changed as other tribes and European settlers invaded Africa. People took there land brought large herds of cattle, goats and sheep and things changed forever. Not only had their livelihood changed, but, without land, they also lost the source of age-old legends, natural resources-use knowledge and spiritual dimensions, of which only they and the land knew. Today many forgotten San communities continue to live in extreme poverty on government land all over Africa.
Remarkably the San Bushman community in New Xanagas, Botswana, as well as many other Bushman in South Africa and Namibia, have endured many hardships, have survived and adapted remarkably to there circumstances. With the help of Missionaries and eventually some governments they have acquired land to live and work on. The San community in New Xanagas "Glory Village", Botswana is an example of how the community encountered and excepted the Love of God through Jesus Christ with viewing the Jesus Film (in English). For many years now the San of New Xanagas together with Missionary Pastor Gawie and his wife Dina established their own Jesus Film team. There outreach trips to various Bushman and other communities and the "Glory Village" with street names such as Healing, Hope, Love, Peace, Faith and the "Glory Lorry" on which they travel and show the Jesus Film, are well known.
I will be moving to New Xanagas from January 2012 to assist the New Xanagas community to establish a San Cultural, Educational and Arts & Craft's Training Centre in which we will establish networking with various organisations to work towards lasting and ongoing results by means of agricultural projects, job creation, arts and crafts, building schools, clinics, orphanages, and/or projects as the need arises. We also plan to establish a tourism rout "Kalahari Bushman Safari Tours" by which visitors can book accommodation in a tented camp, traditional San village and be entertained by traditional San hospitality, singing, dancing, arts & crafts.
Part of my mission will be to assist Campus Crusade for Christ and the Jesus Film Project to translate the Jesus Film film in various San languages.
WE NEED HELP: Through GAIN (Global Aid Network) the Relief and Development arm of Campus Crusade for Christ we aim to bring the love of God, through word and deed, to hurting and needy people. Our immediate and ongoing needs are food, clothing, bedding, blankets, building materials, solar energy products (lights, geysers etc.) and sponsored transport.
If you want to know more or would like to get involved please email me on martin@art-me-africa.com
 |
| Old Lady doing bead work. |
 |
| Glory Lorry |
 |
| Jesus Film Team |
Read more on and see San Arts & Crafts on WWW.AFRICAN-ROCK-ART.COM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete