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RainBeast: A Multilingual Rain Mythology
Invigorating Afrikaans, English, isiXhosa and Haiom verse, and a joyful inspiration from indigenous cultures, by South African writer, Nicolaas Maritz.
This long-awaited, very beautiful book about the myth of rain (as told in the south-western part of Africa), was launched two months before the February 2022 launch of the United Nations Decade of Indigenous Languages. Yet another magnificent addition to the growing library of First People books.
This long-awaited, very beautiful book about the myth of rain (as told in the south-western part of Africa), was launched two months before the February 2022 launch of the United Nations Decade of Indigenous Languages. Yet another magnificent addition to the growing library of First People books.
64 pages, Paperback
Published October 20, 2022
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 24, 2025
Oh man, (as an adult not from South Africa) I could not follow and enjoy the story so much because there were way too many words I didn't know. There is no glossary so you have to stop the story and search for the definitions.
The basic story is there was a drought, then it rained, and most of the pages are about what the animals did when the rain came.
I picked the book up originally because of the multilingual aspect -- it is written in English, Isixhosa, Hai||om, and Afrikaans. Personally I would have loved if it has an audio aspect to it so you could at least hear the story in the other languages but sadly it does not have that.
----
Languages:
Isixhosa ---> Xhosa is an agglutinative tonal language categorized under Bantu linguistic classification. While the Xhosas call their language "isiXhosa", it is usually referred to as "Xhosa" in English. the Bantu language of the Xhosa, related to Zulu and spoken by over 7 million people. It is one of the official languages of South Africa.
Hai||om ---> In the context of San people in Namibia, "Hai||om" refers to a specific group of Khoesan-speaking people, also known as "Bushmen", who were historically nomadic hunter-gatherers, living in the region around Etosha National Park.
Afrikaans ---> refers to both a language and a people, with the language being a creole that developed from 17th-century Dutch and other languages.
------
Illustrations -- mostly abstract -- boobs, butts and penises included. You should know that in case you have a kid who likes to ask you what things are.
------
Here's some new vocabulary. I looked them up so if you want to read this learn the words first to see if it makes it better knowing them ahead of time. :
p. 9
Riemvasmaak (pronounced "reem-fuss-mark", means "tighten the strap" or "tied with straps" and refers to a settlement in the Northern Cape province -- PLACE NAME)
p.10
koppie (a small hill in a generally flat area.)
dappled (marked with spots or rounded patches)
p13
cloudsnake ( )
ouvolk (Afrikaans word meaning "old folk" or "old people," often used to refer to the giant girdled lizard, also known as the sungazer lizard)
p14
riel-danced ("riel" refers to "rieldans," an energetic and traditional indigenous dance style, with roots in Khoi and San ceremonial dances, practiced by descendants of these cultures, and known for its courtship rituals, animal mimicry, and displays of bravado. one of the oldest indigenous dance styles in South Africa)
p32
nonplussed (confused, bewildered, or perplexed, unable to respond or react)
p. 35
leguaan (pronounced "leg-wan", refers to a large monitor lizard, specifically either the Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) or the rock monitor (Varanus albigularis) -- think iguana)
p. 39
step-danced (In the context of South Africa, "step-danced" or "gumboot dancing" refers to a percussive dance form developed by mine workers during the apartheid era, using the sounds of their boots and bodies to communicate and express solidarity).
p40
pangolin
p43
Grietjie (In South Africa, "Grietjie" (or "Ou Grietjie") is a nickname for a cannon used by the Boers, and it also refers to a private nature reserve within the Greater Kruger National Park. )
p44
kaross (a cloak made of sheepskin, or the hide of other animals, with the hair left on. It is properly confined to the coat of skin without sleeves and used to be worn by the Khoikhoi and Bushmen / San peoples of South Africa.)
p47
vlei (pronounced "flay", is an Afrikaans word that refers to a seasonal wetland or marshy depression where water collects, often forming a temporary lake or pan)
----
Publisher: New Africa Books (Capetown, South Africa)
The basic story is there was a drought, then it rained, and most of the pages are about what the animals did when the rain came.
I picked the book up originally because of the multilingual aspect -- it is written in English, Isixhosa, Hai||om, and Afrikaans. Personally I would have loved if it has an audio aspect to it so you could at least hear the story in the other languages but sadly it does not have that.
----
Languages:
Isixhosa ---> Xhosa is an agglutinative tonal language categorized under Bantu linguistic classification. While the Xhosas call their language "isiXhosa", it is usually referred to as "Xhosa" in English. the Bantu language of the Xhosa, related to Zulu and spoken by over 7 million people. It is one of the official languages of South Africa.
Hai||om ---> In the context of San people in Namibia, "Hai||om" refers to a specific group of Khoesan-speaking people, also known as "Bushmen", who were historically nomadic hunter-gatherers, living in the region around Etosha National Park.
Afrikaans ---> refers to both a language and a people, with the language being a creole that developed from 17th-century Dutch and other languages.
------
Illustrations -- mostly abstract -- boobs, butts and penises included. You should know that in case you have a kid who likes to ask you what things are.
------
Here's some new vocabulary. I looked them up so if you want to read this learn the words first to see if it makes it better knowing them ahead of time. :
p. 9
Riemvasmaak (pronounced "reem-fuss-mark", means "tighten the strap" or "tied with straps" and refers to a settlement in the Northern Cape province -- PLACE NAME)
p.10
koppie (a small hill in a generally flat area.)
dappled (marked with spots or rounded patches)
p13
cloudsnake ( )
ouvolk (Afrikaans word meaning "old folk" or "old people," often used to refer to the giant girdled lizard, also known as the sungazer lizard)
p14
riel-danced ("riel" refers to "rieldans," an energetic and traditional indigenous dance style, with roots in Khoi and San ceremonial dances, practiced by descendants of these cultures, and known for its courtship rituals, animal mimicry, and displays of bravado. one of the oldest indigenous dance styles in South Africa)
p32
nonplussed (confused, bewildered, or perplexed, unable to respond or react)
p. 35
leguaan (pronounced "leg-wan", refers to a large monitor lizard, specifically either the Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) or the rock monitor (Varanus albigularis) -- think iguana)
p. 39
step-danced (In the context of South Africa, "step-danced" or "gumboot dancing" refers to a percussive dance form developed by mine workers during the apartheid era, using the sounds of their boots and bodies to communicate and express solidarity).
p40
pangolin
p43
Grietjie (In South Africa, "Grietjie" (or "Ou Grietjie") is a nickname for a cannon used by the Boers, and it also refers to a private nature reserve within the Greater Kruger National Park. )
p44
kaross (a cloak made of sheepskin, or the hide of other animals, with the hair left on. It is properly confined to the coat of skin without sleeves and used to be worn by the Khoikhoi and Bushmen / San peoples of South Africa.)
p47
vlei (pronounced "flay", is an Afrikaans word that refers to a seasonal wetland or marshy depression where water collects, often forming a temporary lake or pan)
----
Publisher: New Africa Books (Capetown, South Africa)
Displaying 1 of 1 review