Books

Creation of the World
In |Xam Mythology
By Jeni Couzyn

Ten creation myths of the |Xam Bushmen, translated into contemporary poems that stay as close as possible to the early texts, followed in each case by an analytic exploration of the meaning and relevance of the story. Lavishly illustrated throughout with the narrative tapestries made at the Bushman Heritage Museum by descendants of the original |Xam narrators.

“Couzyn records and interprets the ancient myths of the South African Bushmen, recovering for us the lost wisdom of humans in harmony with nature. A magical and necessary book.” Rosemary Sullivan

Available from Amazon.co.uk, or from the Bushman Heritage Museum.

James Hartlief
Artist of the Dreaming World
By Jeni Couzyn

James Hartlief was one of the first artists to join the Bethesda Arts Centre. In this inspiring book, he tells his story, from early beginnings – leaving school at twelve to work as a sheep-shearer, his marriage at twenty to a woman with six children, and then through his lino-prints, describes his adventures as an artist, till shortly before his death in 2014. Details of his life are lovingly explored in his quirky artwork, from the animals he felt so connected with, to the grand buildings he admired, and finally to his hospital ward where he was treated for cancer.

Available from the Bushman Heritage Museum.

Koos Malgas
Sculptor of the Owl House
By Julia Malgas and Jeni Couzyn

Koos Malgas was a talented bushman artist, who had both the fortune and the misfortune to find employment as an artist with an Afrikaans woman who knew nothing about making art. Cecil Skotnes, a great South African painter, said of Malgas, “Give me this chap for a week and he would be a great artist.” Without Helen Martins, Malgas would have worked as a sheep-shearer and labourer on farms. Instead he made cement sculptures for her garden, now preserved in the famous “Owl House” as outsider art. In this book, he tells his own story transcribed from recordings made during his life-time, interspersed with his granddaughter’s memories of him, and a thoughtful introductory text and photographs of the work by Jeni Couzyn.

Available from the Bushman Heritage Museum