Xosi Tshae
Xosi Tshae was recorded by the Austrian anthropologist Rudolf Pöch in Ghanzi in 1908. His account bears witness to the transformation of land and life in the border region between Namibia and Botswana during war and settler colonialism: fencing, extensive cattle farming, the eviction and killing of Black pastoralists and the disappearance of large mammals. The sounding poster reconnects his recording with his historical photograph. Job Morris retranslated Xosi Tshae’s recording and is also the speaker in the sound piece accompanying the poster.
Speakers: Xosi Tshae (Naro 1908) and Job Morris (English 2026)
Image, research and curation: Anette Hoffmann
Production, co-curation, sound editing: Rosemary Lombard (@fleurmach_sound)
Historical recordings: Phonogrammarchiv Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Where the work has travelled
- Basel, 2026 — presented at the VAD Conference and placed on display at Basler Afrika Bibliographien
- Windhoek, October 2026 — planned listening session; venue to be confirmed