In Memory of G=kao Martin by vyktohria
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Description
I just received very sad news from my day-job boss this evening that a dear friend of ours in Namibia, G=kao Martin, died this week of tuberculosis (TB). G=kao Martin (Martin) was a member of our Ju/'hoan Transcription Group, a group of San peoples in Africa dedicated to keeping their native language alive by transcribing oral folklore and stories.
Ju/'hoan, their native language, was only until recently (within the last 30 or 40 years) a strictly oral language, with no written equivalent. It is not only one of the oldest spoken languages on the planet, but it is also the only living language today that still uses clicks in it (thus the punctuation...each punctuation mark represents a different sounding click). You may be most familiar with their language through a movie called "The Gods Must Be Crazy" which came out in the early '80s.
As a cultural group, the San are extremely marginalized. They live in constant struggles with poverty, sickness, lack of food, and social disdain. As one of the oldest cultures on the planet, the San are strong and courageous. They continue to succeed in the face of these adversities.
Martin was a dear friend and a dedicated worker. He is pictured here at work on his laptop in Tsumkwe, Namibia where our transcription project takes place. He will be deeply missed. Rest in peace, Martin. /O oo.
