God Must Be Crazy - The Real Life

The main actor of "The Gods Must Be Crazy", N!xau Toma, was only paid $300, even though the film produced in 1980 made over $60 million. He died a poor wretched bushman despite making millions of dollars for other people. He was hugely exploited at the negoting table. In fact, he was merely told what was negotiated and he accepted with happiness. Africans have always been exploited. The film is basically about the conflict between the new order and the old epoch: The Namibian tribal people in a remote African desert live a happy life, but it is all torn to pieces when a Coca-Cola bottle falls from a plane.The confusion and myth surrounding the strange object disorganized the bushmen as they made efforts to unravel the mystery object. He died on 5th July 2003 after a bout with tuberculosis at the age of 59. He died a poor man because he was not only exploited but he lacked the necessary skills to even realised that he was exploited. He equally lacked the skills to manage well the little money he was paid for his appearances in various films because he did not know the value of paper money. He had no formal education and came from a culture that did not value the material things that money could buy and consequently had not learned money management skills. After his film career ended in 2000, he returned to his village to build modern brick house with pipe borne water. He bought heads of cattle but not more than 20 because he simply could not count further than 20. Yes he died poor after playing the lead role in a film that earned more than $60 million in revenue. Where else does it happen if not in Africa?

"The Gods Must Be Crazy," a film produced in 1980, featured N!xau Toma as the main actor. Despite the movie's tremendous success, earning over $60 million, N!xau Toma was only paid a meager $300. This gross discrepancy in compensation reflects the exploitation he faced during the negotiation process. Sadly, N!xau Toma passed away in poverty on July 5th, 2003, at the age of 59, after battling tuberculosis. His story is a poignant example of the exploitation that Africans have often endured.

The film revolves around the clash between the modern world and the traditional way of life. Set in a remote African desert, it depicts the harmonious existence of Namibian tribal people, which is disrupted when a Coca-Cola bottle unexpectedly falls from the sky. The introduction of this unfamiliar object creates confusion and mystification among the bushmen as they attempt to unravel its meaning and purpose.

N!xau Toma's unfortunate financial state can be attributed not only to exploitation but also to his lack of awareness regarding his own exploitation and insufficient money management skills. Having no formal education and coming from a culture that did not prioritize material possessions, he was ill-equipped to understand the value of money and effectively manage his earnings. After his acting career concluded in 2000, he returned to his village with the intention of constructing a modern brick house equipped with piped water. He also acquired a small number of cattle, although his limited numerical knowledge prevented him from owning more than 20.

It is disheartening to witness N!xau Toma's poverty-stricken end, particularly considering his starring role in a film that generated over $60 million in revenue. This occurrence sheds light on the systemic exploitation often experienced in Africa.