The Western World's Perception of the African Bushmen

For my Anthropology class, we've been reading some fascinating material about the African Bushmen. They are considered one of the most primitive civilizations on earth. They hunt in the Kalahari Desert and gather roots and melons for food. They wear skins for clothing and have many religious rituals that are perplexing to people living in the modern world. Here are some "artifacts" I've found written/produced about the Bushmen, which help to tell their single story. First I introduce the artifacts, and afterward I analyze them.

1. The Harmless People

This book is about is a British anthropologist's study of the Bushmen in Africa, which she conducted during the 1950's. The book is quite scientific, and tells all about the rituals, clothing, hunting practices, marriages, and challenges of different Bushmen tribes. However, it reads more like a novel than a scientific text, and it tells a story of people who are content with their primitive lifestyle, but who face many challenges. 

2. The Gods Must Be Crazy

I haven't seen this movie, but the description says it's about a Bushmen Tribesmen who is content living in the Kalahari because the Gods have blessed him and his family. One day, a coke bottle falls from an airplane in the sky. The tribe members start fighting over the glass bottle, and the tribal leader decides it is evil and goes to throw it off the edge of the earth. On his way, meets  people and has an adventure that involves prison time, helping a school teacher, and a romance. 

3. National Geographic Story on the Bushmen 

This story is similar to The Harmless People in that it describes the life of Bushmen, their daily struggles, and the challenges they face by living in the harsh Kalahari. 

4. Survival International campaign

Survival International has started a large campaign specifically directed toward helping the Bushmen. The website talks about how there is an ongoing conflict between Bushmen living on the Kalahari Reserve and the government because diamonds have been found on their land. Survival International wants to raise awareness about the Bushmen and their way of life, and they have a website to collect donations. 

5. DER Documentary: Bushmen's Secret

Link: http://www.der.org/films/bushmans-secret.html

This documentary is a story about a Bushmen healer who has a found a plant massive pharmaceutical companies are eager to get their hands on. The plant could make all the difference for the Bushmen because they live in constant poverty due to their strife with the government. 

So, what's the single story?

In western countries, when we think of Bushmen, we think of a primitive group of people with foreign practices who are consistently exploited by the government. They live in constant poverty, and the population of game they survive on is slowly slipping away. I think it's interesting to note that the single story of the Bushmen has changed a bit over time. In the 1950's and 1980's when The Harmless People and The Gods Must Be Crazy were produced, there wasn't so much emphasis on the struggles the Bushmen faced. The Gods Must Be Crazy is considered a funny movie, and The Harmless People gives a very balanced, intimate account of Bushmen life. However, over time, the single story of the Bushmen has become more bleak. Now documentaries tell the story of their struggles with government and game, and whole charities are dedicated to raising money for them. 

This single story is limiting because it fails to capture the humanity of the Bushmen. Although it is good to have charities dedicated toward helping them, it's also helpful to remember that some Bushmen actually enjoy their simple way of life and have become accustomed to it.