Imagine being the last speaker of your language?! Such a huge responsibility. One of the most heartbreaking realities is that, for decades, Ouma Katrina Esau abandoned her language and identified as an Afrikaans speaking person. Well, that is no more, as she continues to preserve her language in different ways; including a film to capture it all.
Synopsis
Language Of My Soul is an independent documentary film written, directed and produced by Gregory Molale that follows the story of Ouma Katrina Esau, the last speaker of the N|uu language as she is forced to confront her past and save her dying language.
The film is a celebration of an African elder who rediscovered her will to live when she decided to revive a language she was once ashamed of.
Born during a time when there was an official license to hunt, stalk and kill the San people, Katrina Esau abandoned her true identity and stopped speaking her language – N|uu, when she was a 17 year old in 1950. She then identified as an Afrikaans speaking Coloured person (term for people of mixed race in South Africa) until she was 67 years old in 1996.
Language Of My Soul contrasts an era when the San were denied their humanity and a period when they were finally free to speak their language. This portrayal of the enduring consequences of imperialism and the disappointments of democracy, follows the struggles of a matriarch concerned about her legacy.
In collaboration with international award-winning editor – C.A. Van Aswegen S.A.G.E., Gregory employs his creative vision for a special salutation of an African elder who is at the intersection of race, gender and cultural exclusion.
More About The Film & Release Details
In an attempt to immerse the viewer into the psyche and worldview of Ouma Katrina and her people, a world of full contrast and contradictions, Gregory used a mix of documentary storytelling elements, literary traditions and cinematic techniques to articulate the deeper meanings of these complexities.
Shot in Upington and Northern Cape, the film was co-produced by Bonolo Molale, edited by C.A. Van Aswegen S.A.G.E, cinematography by Dakalo Magoro and composed by Ayanda Sithole and Theo Tuge and features key cast members: Claudia Snyman, David Van Wyk, with support from SABC, Africa No Filter, NVF and Gauteng Film Commission.
Language of My Soul will be released on 24th September (Heritage Day in South Africa). For more updates on where to watch this intriguing documentary click <HERE>.
How The Film Idea Came About
Gregory met Ouma Katrina in 2019 and what struck him from their first encounter was her immerse warmth and the stately grace with which she articulates herself.
He was moved by this African elder who was celebrated for preserving a language she was once ashamed of. Despite the fact that from the start, Ouma did not have the academic sophistication unpack the socio-political occurrences that rendered N | uu a language of shame, he felt the story had to be told.
Quick Facts About The N|uu Language
According to the director of the film:
• N | uu is the last surviving member of the !Ui branch of the Tea language family, with all other members of this branch being extinct.
• The language is thought to be as 25,000 years
• Its speakers were the first people of today’s Southern Africa.
• On Average, languages have about 30-40 distinct sounds, however N | uu has 143. That’s three times more than the English language.
• The complexity of N | uu is used to get precision of scientific information around the natural system and without the language, there’s no access to the San’s bio-cultural heritage.
Watch trailer <HERE>
Concluding Thoughts
We often hear about preservation and promotion of African languages, but looking at this story, it is a perfect reminder of why it is truly crucial to do so and how integral it is to cultural development.
Imagine a being the last person to speak a language? A buried language and buried identity? That is a lot of pressure. What a demanding life problem?! From the outside, it might be intriguing but imagine the amount of pressure Ouma Katrina must be feeling? Your language is likely to be instinct without you?
Ouma is undoubtedly a wealth of knowledge and a library in human form. It is great that Gregory Molale and the team are documenting this important story. Hopefully there are more measures in place to ensure the N| uu language is preserved and promoted in various forms. This is why documenting culture is key. What a reality check for Ouma Katrina?!
South Africa has 12 official languages including Sign Language, which became the 12th official language in July 2023. N|uu should also be added to the official languages to preserve and promote it too to avoid extinction.
Credit: Language of My Soul | Website