A Calendar for 2009 Selected by

It is the season for purchasing calendars for 2009 as gifts, and for your walls, even, if so arranged, as a reminder of key events and appointments.  It has 28 pages, including the covers, and sells for P120 each. It is also available at Exclusive Books, Riverwalk.

The premier calendar for many years in Botswana is that from the Kuru Art Project, which is now 18 years old. The project now has 19 members from two of the 16 Khoisan language groups in Botswana: Naro and Duci San.

The Art of the Kalahari 2009 devotes 24 pages to the months plus four additional pages of information about the project outside Gantsi. It all provides spaces (but still relatively small) to write notes. It follows the same format as adopted for recent years that people seem to like.

For 2009 it contains detailed descriptions of each of the 12 artists (not thirteen as one repeats). The majority of the reproductions are from original colour linoleum prints. There are five from oils on canvas and one is from a lithograph.

Art of the Kalahari cover painting by Kg'akg'am Tshabu, 'Camping in the Bush'
The cover, Camping in the Bush, is by Kg'akg'am Tshabu grew up on the freehold farms outside Ghanzi. She joined the Kuru Art Project in January 2005. This oil on canvas painting is what it was like in the old days when they went camping. She also has done the linocut for September of ostriches and tortoises.

Art of the Kalahari month of January 2009-Gamnqoa  Kukama 'The Ostrich chased a Gemsbok'

Gamnqoa  Kukama is around 50-years old and has nine children. He says, 'Art is something we can't help doing. We should hold it in our hands and we should not lose it, for the sake of our children'. 'The Ostrich chased a Gemsbok' is a linocut. It tells an old story about where the gemsbok and ostrich came from.

Art of the Kalahari month of June 2009 'Porcupines'

Jan John is 40-years old. He was born at D'Kar. He also joined the Kuru Art Project in 2005. His linocut 'Porcupines' honours this nocturnal creature whom his mother loved.
Art of the Kalahari month of October 2009'Giraffe and Chicken with Young Ones' by Cgoma Simon

Cgoma Simon also joined the Kuru Art Project in January 2005. Her  Giraffe and Chicken with Young Ones is a brilliant oil on canvas. The giraffe is grazing in a Camel Thorn Tree.
Art of the Kalahari month of November 2009  Tee-Tebe Butterfly Girls by Thamae Kaashea Tee-Tebe Butterfly Girls by Thamae Kaashea.

He joined Kuru when he was 21-years old and has been with them for 16 years. This linocut print features aspects he remembers from his dreams of flying.

The Kuru Family of Organisations (KFO) is now 22-years-old. The beginnings were small, first starting in 1983 in D'Kar on a farm acquired in the late 1960s through the support of the independent Dutch Reformed Church. For various reasons the Kuru Development Trust was not registered as an independent community-based NGO until 1986.

The preschool programme Bokomoso Trust, the crafts development, leatherwork and marketing, and the water conservation drip-irrigation gardens, all date from then.

Kuru Family of Organisations activities can now be found in 50 San communities. It also operates in South Africa. The Bokomoso Trust promotes early childhood training throughout the region. It is based at D'Kar and has close ties with the Naro language project and supports mother tongue learning.

The Kuru D'Kar Trust works with the 1,500 inhabitants of D'Kar to promote well-being in health and education and through development projects. They also are involved in the hostel at D'Kar and the Dqae Qare Game Farm nearby that offers hospitality and a special programme for tourists and where the annual dance festival is usually held. The Kuru Art Project functions under the D'Kar Trust umbrella too.

Gantsi Crafts is now a member of KFO. There are 700 producers in 15 San communities who make the various crafts, 85 percent of whom are women. In 2008 they held a successful fashion sow at Botswana Crafts in Gaborone. There is a sales gallery and a craft museum in Gantsi. San Arts and Crafts also helps promote San art and is a member of the International Fair Trade Association.

The Kumku Trust works to promote self-reliance and sustainable development in San communities. It also carries out research, has a youth programme and an HIV and AIDS programme. 

In northern Ngamiland the Letloa Trust and the Tocadi Trust are based at Shakawe. The Letloa trust is a 'net' or support organisation to help assist the other members of the KFO. It raises funds and provides leadership and training. It runs two support centres, one concerned with community-based natural resources and the other with community health. In addition Letloa runs a culture and education support unit to assist pupils, students and others.

The KFO link in South Africa is SASI or the South African San Institute. It has a number of advocacy programmes, including legal, cultural and language development. It is active in the Northern Cape and also has art and tourism projects.

Not here for 2009 is Coex'ae Qqam a.k.a Dada, a founding member of the Kuru Art Project and one of the most famous, as she has exhibited around the world and on the tail of a British Airways plane-a design that was replicated on tickets, buses and check-in tags.
Further information on Kuru Art and their activities can be had: maude@botsnet.bw. Or see www.kuru.co.bw.