March 2026
BUSHMAN ROCK ART: A VEIL INTO THE PAST
And perhaps, a window into the future.
Southern Africa is blessed with so many rock art sites adorned with beautifully painted figurines, animals and other objects. They are indeed signatures of the past. ‘Graffiti’ of the first peoples, The Bushmen, who recorded their activities, lifeways and visions on the landscape.
Rock art is very difficult to age, but the region contains art sites ranging from 500 to 25 000 years. Crucial remnants of our living heritage legacy.
So what is the meaning of this art? And what can be interpreted from it?
It's a long subjective story. Let’s say that all drawings carry meaning and metaphor, depicting the crucial role that trance and spirituality played in Bushmen communities.
This is a very difficult post to write, to be brief and concise! But to give you a taste lets take a look at the following as an example, an exquisite giraffe image at Malilangwe GR in Zimbabwe.
It is so important to emphasise, I believe, the value of trance and access into spiritual realms in all walks of Bushman lifeways. It is an essential fabric of community, communication, culture and belief systems. Animals played a crucial role in this and giraffe are considered as spiritual deities especially with rainmaking. Rain and weather is crucial to hunter-gatherers communities and the giraffe, with its vision, is seen as a portal with the great spirit, and an access into rainmaking, guidance and and hence well-being. For this reason, giraffe are often painted in great detail and accuracy. This perfect portrait platforms poise, poetry and precision.
Subtle details such as the drooping head posture is important, as this represents an imminent cross over from a physical state to a spiritual one. The emphasised raised mane of the giraffe suggests that the artist is recording an active trance moment.
There is so much more to speculate: the rock face is alive with movement and story! Drama and sequence! Meaning and relevance. A little patience and an open mind is all that is required.
It could be argued that Bushman Shamanism is the origin of human spirituality. And once viewed through this lens, is it perhaps possible to look at a giraffe (and what it represents to our origins) the same way again?
This is the value of LIVING HERITAGE LEGACY. To connect our origins with the present moment and see things differently.
Then to glance ahead with respect and humility.
Then to tread forward lightly.
More for another time perhaps ….
TAKING OUR LEAD FROM THE WILD
BUSHMAN ROCK ART: A VEIL INTO THE PAST
And perhaps, a window into the future.
Southern Africa is blessed with so many rock art sites adorned with beautifully painted figurines, animals and other objects. They are indeed signatures of the past. ‘Graffiti’ of the first peoples, The Bushmen, who recorded their activities, lifeways and visions on the landscape.
Rock art is very difficult to age, but the region contains art sites ranging from 500 to 25 000 years. Crucial remnants of our living heritage legacy.
So what is the meaning of this art? And what can be interpreted from it?
It's a long subjective story. Let’s say that all drawings carry meaning and metaphor, depicting the crucial role that trance and spirituality played in Bushmen communities.
This is a very difficult post to write, to be brief and concise! But to give you a taste lets take a look at the following as an example, an exquisite giraffe image at Malilangwe GR in Zimbabwe.
It is so important to emphasise, I believe, the value of trance and access into spiritual realms in all walks of Bushman lifeways. It is an essential fabric of community, communication, culture and belief systems. Animals played a crucial role in this and giraffe are considered as spiritual deities especially with rainmaking. Rain and weather is crucial to hunter-gatherers communities and the giraffe, with its vision, is seen as a portal with the great spirit, and an access into rainmaking, guidance and and hence well-being. For this reason, giraffe are often painted in great detail and accuracy. This perfect portrait platforms poise, poetry and precision.
Subtle details such as the drooping head posture is important, as this represents an imminent cross over from a physical state to a spiritual one. The emphasised raised mane of the giraffe suggests that the artist is recording an active trance moment.
There is so much more to speculate: the rock face is alive with movement and story! Drama and sequence! Meaning and relevance. A little patience and an open mind is all that is required.
It could be argued that Bushman Shamanism is the origin of human spirituality. And once viewed through this lens, is it perhaps possible to look at a giraffe (and what it represents to our origins) the same way again?
This is the value of LIVING HERITAGE LEGACY. To connect our origins with the present moment and see things differently.
Then to glance ahead with respect and humility.
Then to tread forward lightly.
More for another time perhaps ….
TAKING OUR LEAD FROM THE WILD