Past projects
2020-2023
|Kaggen Sculpture and !Ora Star Names
Two unique art installations have been installed at the new South African Astronomical Observatory's (SAAO) Visitor's Center in Cape Town, South Africa. Each of these installations include full writeups in Nama (Khoekhoegowab), isiXhosa, Afrikaans and English.
The sculpture of |Kaggen is inspired by stories as told by |Xam speakers and their descendants about the early creation days when there was still chaos in the universe. You will see him playfully hanging from the rafters as you enter the Visitor's Center.
!Ora also known as Kora is a Khoe language that was once spoken in and around the Karoo in South Africa. Over 100 years ago Lucy Lloyd documented in her notebooks the names for stars in Kora and noted their location in the night sky at the time. She collaborated with two Kora speakers, ǂKāsing and Dīaǃkwã̰in who told her stories and taught her about their language and culture. Today a visual representation of their collaboration can be seen in the SAAO Visitor's Center.
2020-2022
Digital Dictionary Resources for N|uu
N|uu, Nama, Afrikaans, English
A dictionary available for free in three formats
A comprehensive dictionary was collated by African Tongue in collaboration with N|uu speakers as well as local and international linguists to produce:
1) a hardcopy
2) web-portal
3) mobile app - Saasi Epsi
The above resources are available for free thanks to funding by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC), South Africa.
Instructional videos on how to use each version of the resource is provided below as presentation by Dr Kerry Jones and Prof Menno van Zaanen.
SADiLaR and African Tongue partnered on this project to develop and preserve N|uu and Nama (Khoekhoegowab) especially as these are both endangered languages. A unique variety of Afrikaans known as "Onse Afrikaans" was also formally documented for the first time. The variety of English used was South African English.
To download Saasi Epsi for free, please visit Google Play Store at the following link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.sadilar.mdaf&hl=en&gl=US
Please visit the web-portal for the dictionary at at the following link:
2021
Planetarium film
Sida Tsoatsoas
"Our Beginning"
"Moments from SIDA TSOATSOAS" features some behind the scenes shots from our latest VR film entitled "Sida Tsoatsoas" (Our Beginning).
A first in South African planetarium film making, combining animation and live action.
Set in the Kalahari and featuring a traditional story about the origin of the Sun. We are transported into a world of the early days, as told by ǂKhomani descendants.
Book a viewing of the full film at you local planetarium or contact African Tongue for further information: africantongue@gmail.com
Fantastic collaboration with ǂKhomani descendants of the Kalahari, South African Astronomical Observatory, Dr Daniel Cunnama, The Planetarium at Iziko South African Museum, Dr Sally Macfarlane, VR Capture, Telmo dos Reis, Gimbal Media, Betta and Siemon Steyn, Postage Agency, Carl Jones and Jared Keiser.
The flat version of Sida Tsoatsoas can be found below.
To view the full dome version, please contact African Tongue to find out where local or international screenings are available.
2021
Bilingual Plant Posters
These posters were developed collaboratively with mother tongue speakers of Ju|'hoansi, an endangered Ju language spoken in Namibia and Botswana.
The purpose of these posters is to share indigenous knowledge about food plants as used by the Ju|'hoansi in the Tsumkwe area of the Nyae Naye conservancy in Namibia.
These posters are bilingual Ju|'hoansi and English in order to facilitate mother tongue education and incorporate the national language of Namibia, English. There are two versions of each poster:
1) the pdf with embedded sound clips, intended to be used online
2) the pdf with QR codes for the sound clips - intended as a print version.
All audio recordings were done by a mother tongue speaker and translator, Fridrik |Kunta.
Artwork and layout, Nicola Poulos.
Consulting linguist and project coordinator Dr Kerry Jones.
Funding for this project was jointly provided by the Kalahari Peoples Fund and the National Research Fund (South Africa).
This content was inspired by the Maguire San Ethnobotanical Collection housed at Stellenbosch University and is the life's work of Brian Maguire and his wife Judy Maguire.
2020
Animated films
Moon's Message
In collaboration with the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), African Tongue produced a short animated film called "Moon's Message". This film is based on a traditional story, as told for over 100 years by many different speakers of minority languages throughout southern Africa.
The film is freely available online in the following languages: Khoekhoegowab, isiXhosa, Afrikaans and English.
2022 will see the release of two more films, "Dancer the Fire-Maker" and "ǁX’oqesi the shooting star"
2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Guidance for minority language speakers in Southern Africa
African Tongue joined hands with contributors to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outreach program. This program is specifically for speakers of minority languages in Southern Africa. We assisted with the development of materials in the mother tongue in order to inform and protect vulnerable communities.
This project was supported by the Kalahari Peoples Fund and other generous patrons to produce posters, pamphlets, and short audio guides in the following languages: Ju|'hoansi, Khoekhoegowab, Khwe, Otjiherero, Himba, Naro and !Xun.
All content is avaiable for free online at the following link:
2019
Subtitles for the film "San Dance!"
A journey to the heart of Africa's original dance culture...
African Tongue teamed up with film maker Richard Wicksteed in his film San Dance to produce translations and subtitles in collaboration with mother tongue speakers. The languages featured in the film were: Khwe, Naro, Ju|'hoansi and Ts'ixa.
To view a trailer of San Dance, follow the link below:
2018
Language related content
!Khwa ttu San Heritage Centre
African Tongue assisted the !Khwa ttu San Heritage Centre in developing language related content for their new Heritage Centre in Yzerfontein, South Africa.
2016
Bilingual educational posters
!Xun and Afrikaans & Khwe and Afrikaans
These posters were developed in collaboration with !Xun and Khwe speakers of Platfontein South Africa. Both languages are endangered and are spoken in South Africa, Namibia, Angola and Zambia.
In the South African context, bilingual posters were developed as Afrikaans is the language of instruction in the local school, !Xunkhwesa. All illustrations were done by community members.
For free printable versions please email African Tongue
2014 & 2015
Taal Tent
Kalahari Desert Festival
Featuring three languages: !Xun, Khwe and N|uu.
African Tongue ran language workshops and activities in the mother tongue for young and old to learn more about literacy and language heritage in South Africa.
Ouma Katriena Geelmeid Esau participated in the Taal Tent (Language Tent) and helped the younger generations with their pronunciation of N|uu. Hantie Guys and Ghumba Katchorro assisted with teaching !Xun and Khwe.
Our theme for 2014 was "animals" and 2015 "Who am I?"
