A Mother Teaching Her Child the Art of Gathering Delta Food

A San mother and her young daughter walk carefully along the muddy banks of the Okavango Delta, searching for edible plants and medicinal roots. The mother, wearing a light leather wrap, crouches near a shallow pond, pointing at floating water lily bulbs, showing her daughter how to pluck and clean them for food. The young girl, dressed in a simple reed skirt, listens intently, her small hands reaching into the water to pull out a tuber. In the background, a herd of buffalo grazes near the water, while a group of San villagers collect papyrus reeds to build shelters. The delta’s rich vegetation is alive with dragonflies, colorful birds, and small frogs, creating a peaceful yet vibrant scene. The mother gently places a woven basket on her back, filled with wild fruits and nuts, and leads her daughter back home as the afternoon sun shimmers on the water.