Emma Lo
Questions on Bushmen: Last Stand for Africa’s First People, pp. 1-6
1. What are the different names that “Africa’s First People” have been called, and by
whom? What did they call themselves?
They have been called the Basarwa (people who have nothing) by the Tswana, San, by the
Khoi, and the European colonists called them Bushmen. They call themselves the Ju/’hoansi.
2. What observations can you make about the description of N!amce making his arrows (p.
3)? What materials does he use? Are all of his materials “Paleolithic” in nature? What
conclusions might you draw about the San Bushmen from this description?
N!amce uses a variety of materials, such as a reed shaft, bitumen from a car battery, twine
made of kudu sinew, giraffe bone, and gauge wire. The bitumen probably wasn’t used in the
Paleolithic era. By the materials and the way N!amce makes the arrows, the San Bushmen
are most likely very resourceful people, using whatever items are available in clever ways.
3. The San hunters tell the writer that “the bush is our book.” What do they mean? In what
ways do they “read” their environment while tracking their prey?
The hunters mean that they have to “read” their surroundings in order to figure out information
about the animals they are trying to hunt. They can determine age and sex of animals by
looking at the poop. The hunters also know that male springboks bring up the rear of the herd,
and male gemsbok butt tree trunks with their horns. They can also look hat how long it takes
termites to rebuild a trampled nest, or a spider to rebuild the cobwebs.
4. What is the role of the shaman? What skills do they possess?
The shaman communicates with dead relatives, and acts as a bridge between the spirit and
the human world. They also believe that they can cure the sick.
5. On page 6, a shaman attempts to heal a sick girl. What does he say about the cause of
her illness? What does the “moral” statement tell us about the core values of the San
people – and why do you think that value is so important?
The shaman says that the cause of her illness is because she didn’t eat all of the gemsbok.
The moral statement of the spirit shows once again that the San Bushmen don’t waste any of
their resources. All the parts of the gemsbok can be eaten or used for other activities. This is
important to the people because in the remote areas of the desert, there isn’t much to go
around, so the Bushmen must make do with what they have to the most.
