“I learned my knowledge of herbs from my mother. The knowledge was transferred from woman to woman, mother to daughter.”

Ouma Geelmeid (oh-mah ggee-yell-mide)

N/uu (noo) language teacher

IMAGE SOURCE: Pumza Fihlani “Trying to save South Africa’s first language.” BBC News 30 Aug. 2017. | QUOTE SOURCE: Bernadette Muthien. “The KhoeSan & Partnership Beyond Patriarchy & Violence.” Doctoral thesis. March 2008.

IMAGE SOURCE: Pumza Fihlani “Trying to save South Africa’s first language.” BBC News 30 Aug. 2017. | QUOTE SOURCE: Bernadette Muthien. “The KhoeSan & Partnership Beyond Patriarchy & Violence.” Doctoral thesis. March 2008.

QUOTE CONTEXT: “I grew up on a farm. I saw adults practice ritual. Adults always gathered and danced…They (elders) always spoke to us to live spiritual lives.”

QUOTE QUESTION: What essential knowledge came to you from your mother and grandmothers?


IMAGE CONTEXT: Inside a small wooden hut Ouma Geelmeid teaches the 112 sounds including 45 distinct clicks of N/uu with the local children. Park.

IMAGE QUESTION: What must you teach so that it will not vanish?


MEDIA LITERACY CONTEXT: The quote is from an interview in a doctoral thesis. The photo is from a BBC news story.

MEDIA LITERACY QUESTION: How do you decide what to share with others about your traditions?


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