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Cosmic Africa
by Effie George
Stars mean many different things to many different people. Whether ancestors long gone, a prehistoric navigational system, a religious symbol, or merely an explosion of gas, it is undeniable that the stars, especially the stars visible in South Africa, are full of wonder, curiosity and immense pulchritude. These stars are especially poignant to Thebe Medupe, one of South Africa's first astronomers. Cosmic Africa follows Medupe on a journey that takes him to the origins of astronomy, through the history and evolution of the meaning of the stars to civilians. The journey, not only the physical journey but the mental journey of discovery as well, allows Medupe to reflect on his people's past and gives him, and the audience, a new appreciation for astronomy in South Africa.
Although Medupe is called one of South Africa's first astronomers, Medupe says we are "misinformed to believe our ancestors were not interested in astronomy." In fact, it is quite the opposite. Back when motor powered vehicles, watches and calendars (as we know them today) were not even a conceived notion, South Africans used the stars and the lunar cycle as guidelines for the planting and harvesting seasons. Ancient tribes considered the moon and stars to be like a person, each with their own personalities and character traits. The stars were also able to predict the amount of rain in the coming season. Through interviews, images and dialogue between the people of Namibia, Mali, and the Sahara, it is clear that the stars are more than beautiful objects in the sky; they link cultures to their pasts and they represent the difference between survival of the culture and complete destruction. The journey through South Africa and the different ancient tribes teaches the audience as well as tells a story of how the stars affect how people lived and continue to live on earth. Although Medupe believed "science removed me from my heritage," the film proved that if you dig up the past, you are bound to find links and connections to peoples and places you never imagined.
Through the colorful, expressive images, the audience was "struck by how beautiful the sky is." The film was started in 1998 with the hopes of making a documentary "about how Africans related to the sky." Six years later, it has won the award for Best Documentary produced in South Africa. The aim of the film was to "fill in the gap about how the history of astronomy was introduced to the world." This goal was accomplished with flying colors. The film concentrated not only on the astronomical aspect, but also the cultural aspect of South Africa's history, which was crucial to understanding the true importance of astronomy to the early South African people. In this way, the film taught the audience about culture and the early way of life in South Africa. The film, which was directed by Craig and Damon Foster, perfectly captured how necessary it truly is "to understand the earth in order to understand the sky."
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