Whispers from the Khwe: A collection of folktales
Authors: Patricia Dinyando, Vote Ngugwe & Ndapewa Fenny Nakanyete
ISBN 9789994557400
University of Namibia Press, December 2025
HardThis book presents 10 captivating folk stories collected through storytelling sessions by members of Khwe San
communities, particularly elders, from Bwabwata National Park. The majority of the San population, including Khwe, primarily rely on spoken communication in San languages, as most individuals cannot read or write in their mother tongue. To a significant degree, this negatively affects San children, in stark contrast to non-San children, who receive education in their native languages up to Grade 3. Primary school learners of Khwe ethnicity, like other San children, are instructed in second languages due to the current lack of approval for Khwedam as a medium of instruction in Namibia’s
educational system. Consequently, Khwedam-speaking children often struggle to read, write, or express themselves in
Khwedam, particularly in the presence of individuals from different ethnic backgrounds.
Recognising this, this book aims to address these challenges through the objectives outlined:
1. Foster literacy: To nurture a generation capable of not only speaking but also reading and writing in Khwedam.
2. Cultural awareness and pride: To instill a sense of awareness and pride among Khwedam-speaking children regarding their language and culture.
3. Literary contribution: To contribute to the existing body of literature in Khwedam, enhancing the representation of Khwedam-speaking culture in written form.
ABOUT THE BOOK IN KHWEDAM
