The San Children of the Kalahari

With the goal of supporting the Naro San Bushmen, ZEZE Collective merges the ancient crafts of the Botswana tribe with modern inspirations from talented jeweller Sabine Roemer working alongside San Arts & Crafts, to develop the Jewels of the Kalahari collection.

For countless generations, the Bushmen have existed in harmony with animals and nature and have been largely isolated from the outside world until the last century. The Bushmen are the earliest known human population, and, under duress from modern progress, are now amongst the poorest of Southern Africa’s people.

Inspired by sacred ceremonies and traditions, rooted in adornment and made by hand over hours and hours, their beautiful, intricate craft uses the available natural resources of their surroundings to produce exquisite pieces. An example of which is the ostrich eggshells, where one egg feeds an entire family and acts as a container for water, before its broken shards are used to create the unique jewels. Ostrich eggshell jewellery is the first recorded jewellery in human history.

Combining the Bushmen’s traditional objects from eggshells to recycled glass beads, with newly introduced materials like leather, silver, velvet and satin, the jewellery line symbolises their journey, linking their rich past to today’s world by marrying ancient techniques with modern designs.

Fashion and portrait photographer, Boo George captured incredible strong imagery of the Bushmen, showing a side of them that is so often forgotten – the exceptional humour, wisdom and beauty of the ladies - contrasted with modern and empowering images of a young Bushman woman, Sekopaleina adorning the Jewels of the Kalahari collection.  

Photography by Boo George.