Digital Archives
2015-2025
ǂKhomani | Hugh Brody Archive
Free access at the following link:
(https://ibali.uct.ac.za/s/bvf41/)
In 1999 a historical land claim in the Kalahari returned the ǂKhomani people to their ancestral lands. The history of the land claim process and the lives of the community were documented before, during and after resettlement and spans over more than 100 years. This digital archive contains more than 1000 photographs that are now freely available online as well as hundreds of transcript files in N|uu, Nama (Khoekhoegowab), Kora and Onse Afrikaans which have been translated into English.
2020-2025
Maguire San Ethnobotanical Collection
Digitisation of Ethnobotanical Collection with a focus on Ju|'hoansi and !Xoo
The aim of this project is to share via open source digital means, an historical collection of San ethnobotanical data. The data was collected between 1954 and 1975 by Mr Brian Maguire and his wife Dr Judy Maguire in close collaboration with Ju|’hoan and !Xoo communities of the Kalahari.
This is a comprehensive collection, meticulously documented in various mediums available at the time (slides, photographs, field-notes, journals, manuscripts and drawings) providing detailed descriptions of plant use by our indigenous first peoples, most especially food plants in water scarce areas.
Free online access to the digitised content so far is available via Stellenbosch University at the following link:
2021-2024
ǂXoake - Praat - Speak
A collection of traditional stories as told by ǂKhomani residents of the Kalahari
This project is led by African Tongue and funded by Worldwide Indigenous Science Network (WISN).
The aim of the project is to collaborate with traditional ǂKhomani storytellers to assist with documenting and sharing these stories to anyone who would like to learn more about their culture. These stories are told in Nama and Afrikaans and cover a variety of themes, from creationist stories to good old comedy.
These stories are currently being transcribed and translated - once complete they will be made available online for free.
It is hoped in the future, that a selection of these stories can be developed into a book or animation in collaboration with local artists for further enjoyment and sharing.