I remember my Dad taking me to see Battle Cave; this was my first visit to an original Bushman Rock Art Gallery! I could not have enough questions answered as my eyes darted from one painted scene to the next – my mind was racing – wondering who the artists were; why they painted and when it was painted… from then on I was hooked and begged my Dad to show me more – we went hiking into the sandstone hills of the Drakensberg as often as spare time allowed and we found more paintings – some we’ve kept a secret and others we have shared with friends and guests.

I was taught that the Bushmen are very talkative and use gesture in their communication and of course when Jamie Uys made the film The Gods must be crazy, I heard for the first time sounds similar to their language made up of different clicks. Peculiar and yet intriguing, which added even at that early age, value their paintings.

These days, when I look at the paintings I try not to interpret the art, I try to admire the talent – their beautiful representation of Eland antelope and their people. Both, always a prominent part of their work and I think historian’s and archaeologists thank them for that!  Something as important as tradition and spiritual belief is never compromised and even if some traditions are no longer practised the story of these traditions is told through this ancient art.

For some people, religion is a ‘touchy’ subject; for me, it is too personal for anyone to truly recount another persons’ spiritual experience of life, however, I do believe this type of painting is a God-given-talent!