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“Moments are by far the most extraordinary little elements of time they spring upon you when you least expect, and if you are lucky enough, or rather aware enough, you eventually recognize them while they take place.
The key is to be careful not to notice them too much. They have an uncanny way of disappearing once noticed, since they are very shy evasive little creatures.
However, the beauty of moments is that they are never lost forever, because even though you may not notice them immediately, we are always able to recall each and every one of them, at will.”
People did not always live on the surface of the earth. At one time people and animals lived underneath the earth with Kaang (Käng), the Great Master and Lord of All Life. In this place people and animals lived together peacefully. They understood each other. No one ever wanted for anything and it was always light even though there wasn’t any sun. During this time of bliss Kaang began to plan the wonders he would put in the world above.
First Kaang created a wondrous tree, with branches stretching over the entire country. At the base of the tree he dug a hole that reached all the way down into the world where the people and animals lived. After he had finished furnishing the world as he pleased he led the first man up the hole. He sat down on the edge of the hole and soon the first woman came up out of it. Soon all the people were gathered at the foot of the tree, awed by the world they had just entered. Next, Kaang began helping the animals climb out of the hole. In their eagerness some of the animals found a way to climb up through the tree’s roots and come out of the branches. They continued racing out of the world beneath until all of the animals were out.
Kaang gathered all the people and animals about him. He instructed them to live together peacefully. Then he turned to the men and women and warned them not to build any fires or a great evil would befall them. They gave their word and Kaang left to where he could watch his world secretly.
As evening approached the sun began to sink beneath the horizon. The people and animals stood watching this phenomenon, but when the sun disappeared fear entered the hearts of the people. They could no longer see each other as they lacked the eyes of the animals which were capable of seeing in the dark. They lacked the warm fur of the animals also and soon grew cold. In desperation one man suggested that they build a fire to keep warm. Forgetting Kaang’s warning they disobeyed him. They soon grew warm and were once again able to see each other.
However the fire frightened the animals. They fled to the caves and mountains and ever since the people broke Kaang’s command people have not been able to communicate with animals. Now fear has replaced the seat friendship once held between the two groups.
The Bushmen of Africa believe that not only are plants and animals alive, but also rain, thunder, the wind, spring, etc. They claim:
What we see is only the outside form or body. Inside is a living spirit that we cannot see. These spirits can fly out of one body into another. For example, a woman’s spirit might sometime fly into a leopard; or a man’s spirit fly into a lion’s body. (Fahs and Spoerl 6)
This may be part of the reason that animals play such an important role in their myth.
iKaang
Kaang
Kaang is the creatorgod of the Bushmen of Southern Africa and is said to have made all things. He is regarded as the god of natural phenomena, present in all things, but especially the mantis and caterpillar.
The Bushmen believe that they used to live underground with the animals until Kaang brought them all above the ground. This is their theory of their creation.
Creation story
Receiving disobedience from the first men he had created, Kaang sent fire and destruction to Earth. He was met with such opposition in the world that he moved his abode from the earth to the top of the sky.
It is also said Kaang created the moon from an old shoe, and that with his wife Coti he bore two sons, Cogaz and Gewi.
Other myths
Kaang has many myths attached to him and could be considered an epic hero. In one myth, he was eaten by an ogre, who then vomited him back up. In another, he was killed by thorns and his boned picked clean by ants, but Kaang reassembled his skeleton and rose again.
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“However long a river may be, it is always connected to it’s origin.”