Khoi Resoration – Art and Culture Education

PROBLEMS

Traditional Khoi-Khoi culture has been, almost, entirely wiped out in the Overberg Region. All indigenous people have be been, forcefully, removed from their Spiritual homes and are completely excluded from decision making.

The lucrative Tourism Market also excludes the Traditional Culture and Heritage of our region. Cape Agulhas Tourism has ignored all attempts to involve the community, through our Arts and Crafts Shop proposals, that would allow community and tourist cohesion.

The exclusion of Traditional Culture and Heritage is the root cause of suffering for communities all over the Overberg Region, the rest of Africa and the world. We must address this problem.

GOALS

• Restoring the Khoisan Culture (First Nation of South Africa) to the Overberg Region, on the Southern Tip of Africa.
• Share the Khoi Culture and Heritage with the world. The indigenous culture is primarily nature orientated. Their knowledge of nature and natural medicine is profound.
• Share Khoi Culture and Heritage, using the Tourism Industry as our marketing tool
• Unite our rural communities. The Overberg Region includes the following communities in close proximity to one another: Arniston, Struisbaai, Bredasdorp, Napier, Elim
• To set up an arts training centre with workshops were people of all ages can share skills and knowledge and learn art forms that target the lucrative Tourism Market on the Southern Tip of Africa. Creative cohesion will allow our communities to reconnect to their roots and be proud of their heritage.

SPECIFICATIONS

The name Khoisan was created to place the aboriginal San (hunter gatherers) and Khoi khoi( pastoralists) in the same category. The indigenous cultures displayed similarities in language, knowledge and spirituality. The destructive colonial occupation and genocide, attempted to destroy the Khoi Culture and enslave the people of this land. The term Khoisan is collectively used of for the descendants of the Khoi-Khoi and the San people whose original way of life has been completely destroyed.

The plight of the Khoisan is similar to other global First Nation movements. However, until now the Khoi Culture has been kept secret as the Khoi took their knowledge underground to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Art, music, dance , and storytelling was at the heart of both cultures which was the first to be removed which destroyed their identity as community. Their own language and indigenous knowledge has been preserved and Traditional Leadership have decided to rise up and restore their culture. This could very well save this world from complete destruction.

The survivors of the initial onslaught were assimilated into the mixed gene pool and were branded the 'coloured people of South Africa'. Till this day, they have suffered the most. Discrimination and disrespect by the Dutch, English, EVERY political regime has been the order of the day in modern history. This trend is being halted, with immediate effect.

One only has to start looking at the significance of Khoisan rock art, their knowledge of medicinal plants, harmonious and spiritual way of living to realise that these people are a true manifestation of natural intelligence. In this year, 2017, 30 years after the apartheid regime ended in Sout Africa, the government is giving the Khoisan nation recognition as a indigenous traditional tribe, with equal leadership rights along with 11 other recognised tribes. Ironically these other recognised tribes arrived here at the onset of colonisation.

Overberg Khoe-San Community Arts and Tourism projects are a khoisan leadership initiative to launch the restoration of Khoi Culture to the land and its people.

CHALLENGES

After interviewing, the youth, adults and elders, it became apparent that little or no knowledge remains within the community, for example

• The concept of culture and and different varieties global of cultural identities
• The value of having their own identity created by the original way of living and the connection to nature
• The arts made by the Khoi Khoi and San
• Concepts and knowledge in art and design
• Practical experience in art forms
• Tourism and art
• Producing economic upliftment through creative business skills and arts training to create products for the tourism market
• No exposure to art education therefore the lack of skills and mastering art forms
• Art and spirituality
• No pride in their heritage, for instance the infamous Sarah Baartman who came from the southern tip Khoi Khoi and who is famous in debates of feminism
• Because there is no sense of group belonging wich is a natural instinct amongst humanity, the community members have been forming gangs and renegade groups

SOLUTIONS

• We are opening a tourist shop/museum/cultural centre at the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, visited by millions of tourists throughout the year.
• For this shop we train already existing creatives, improving their skills and through market research, create and sell product to the tourists. Also offering information on the true history and cultural tradition of the region, that has been hidden in the past
• Our communities will generate and create all the product offered to our guests that have made the long journey to the Southern Tip of Africa. We would like all our visitors to leave the region enlightened and happy that they made the decision to come here.
• Our main objective with Arts and Culture Education Project is to have it implemented at the beginning of the school year. The art education projects, throughout the year, are the building blocks that lead up to an end of year event, named, 'khulture generation'. This is a professionally orchestrated collaboration of all the art forms.
• School performances and their artistic creations will also be on display for the tourist market, primarily located at the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse,
• Many other incentives are being planned, medicinal plant workshops, hosted by real bush doctors, food productive agriculture.
• Reconnecting people to nature, outdoor activities and nature walks
• Natural rhythmic music and dance festivals
• Share enlightening stories and knowledge, embedded in orature and art
• Embrace all our people, in unity, within community. Happiness will return to the region.

We have the blessings and support from our Traditional Leadership and the Kei Korana Western Cape Province. Overberg Khoi Community are taking our role in the 'Khoisan Uprising' extremely seriously and we are honoured to be included.

We are calling on everyone to unite and please assist us with the processes needed to reinstall the 'GOOD' into our world...

In unity, good shall reign supreme!

Overberg Khoe-San Community Video Clips