Emerging out of the 2024 ‘Vroedvrou’ film documentary by Professor Siona O’Connell, a ground-breaking children’s book was launched in Kuboes in the Northern Cape on 9 November 2024. Titled ‘My Third Ouma | My Derde Ouma | Ti !Nona||î Aumas,’ this is one of the first Nama children's books published in South Africa.

The book delves into the heart of a Nama midwife's legacy. Ten-year-old Sonnetjie, entrusted to the care of Ouma Toesie, witnesses first-hand the wisdom and healing hands of a traditional midwife. As Sonnetjie's mother prepares to give birth, the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of a community deeply rooted in tradition.

Bertie Saal holds a mic for Gerba Pick (a Nama Teacher) while she does a reading for kids from the Kuboes community. Click on the image for more pictures of the event.

The book pays homage to the invaluable contributions of Nama midwives, whose knowledge is slowly fading away in the face of modern medicine. Professor Loretta Feris, Vice Principal: Academic and Professor Siona O’Connell worked with Alicia English and Leanne Feris to produce the book that was translated to Afrikaans and Nama.

As interdisciplinary scholar, O’Connell says: ’This book responds to so many different threads that are of deep significance in a place such as the Richtersveld in the Northern Cape. It speaks of heritage and history, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and mother tongue learning.I have a particular interest in early childhood literacy and mother-tongue learning, so to be able to see this book from concept to launch, has been deeply rewarding in the sense that this UP team is intervening in impactful ways.’

The book was hand-illustrated by Rosa Shepherd and Nicola Visser, who worked closely with O’Connell. Indigenous plants were researched, and the characters in the book were based on Professor Feris’s earlier research as well as O’Connell’s work in Paulshoek.

The launch in Kuboes was co-hosted with the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC), and is part of a Community Engagement collaboration between UP, DSAC and the Richtersveld CPA and the Richtersveld World Heritage Site Committee.

As emphasised by the documentary, ‘Vroedvrou’, giving birth is the epitome of challenge for a woman. Oftentimes, modern medical care lets new mothers down when they need the support the most. That is where traditional midwives fill the gap that is left by modern medical support. While the traditional midwife practice is not legally protected, the documentary highlights why it is crucial to preserve the knowledge and practices that these midwives have gathered and refined over centuries of experience and hard work.

The book is co-published by ESI Press and The Olive Exchange and is available for free download in three languages here.