N!ai: The Story of a !Kung Woman
John Marshal’s film N!ai: The Story of a !Kung Woman is more than a Biography. It highlights
the lives and changes of individuals as personified in the life of N!ai. When
Marshall started filming the documentary, she was a young girl, living a nomadic
life in the modern-day Namibia.
In the first part, the main character describes her
instinctive knowledge of the village, and how she did not love her husband
initially. He married N!ai when she was eleven years old. As time went by, she
developed a strong bond and feelings towards him. Eventually, she accepted him
as her husband when he became as a village healer. N!ai also narrated her
experience as a young adolescent girl. She feared childbirth but enjoyed her marriage and the village harmony.
Her experience took the
worst turn in 1978 when the
government restricted them to a smaller reserve. Together with her extended
family, N!ai moved to a sedentary camp, where tourist took their pictures. Since
they could not practice hunting and gathering, they depended on tourist income
and maize meal donations. Gradually, they lost their nomadic lifestyle. Even
worse, the local government officials discouraged men from hunting with horses.
In fact, the officials claimed that horse game damaged tourism, hence most
!Kung men were arrested. Eventually, many joined South African Army and died on
duty (Marshall & Miesmer, 2011).
Tensions mounted due to insecurity and jealousy
within the camp. Since N!ai was relatively beautiful, she received more
payments for photos and became famous. Yet, other jealous women accused her of
prostitution. In the end, the villagers banish her. She wishes to die.
While the has a happy start due to N!ai’s
experience, cultural decay, and
government intervention sours the villagers’
experience, given that it breeds animosity and infighting.
References
Marshall, J., & Miesmer, A. (Eds.). (1980). N! ai:
The Story of a! Kung Woman. Documentary Educational Resources.
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