Antelope (Kaang)

Legends of Africa: Antelope (Kaang)

The Bushmen, also called the Khoi or San, are the nomads of Africa.

 In the last few decades, many have become farmers due to the dangers that our modern life poses to their traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle, but their territory once stretched from the Cape to Kenya. 

The Bushmen are experts at finding water, and their advice is often sought out due to their precognitive dreams and divining capabilities.

According to their beliefs, the supreme god Kaang created the world but sent death and destruction after experiencing too much disobedience and antagonism. 

Even though he lives in the sky, his invisible spirit still resides in all living things.

 In one story Kaang’s wife gave birth to an eland (African antelope). The god nurtured the calf but it was mistakenly killed by his two sons. Kaang demanded that the eland’s blood be boiled. 

The subsequent fatty residue was scattered across the landscape, in turn becoming other antelope and animals.

 In this manner, Kaang provided the meat that his people hunt, kill, and eat to this day.