Book review: Fading Footprints

Fading Footprints
José Manuel de Prada-Samper
Jonathan Ball
Review: Lauren O'Connor-May

I picked up Fading Footprints by José Manuel de Prada-Samper because I am interested in the history of the Khoi people, who I suspect may be part of my ancestry. 

What I didn’t quite expect – despite the press release noting that the book is "part memoir" – was how much of the book would be devoted to personal narrative. Roughly 60% of it reads as memoir and travel log, a style that's become quite popular in nonfiction but isn't to my taste. I often skipped over the more personal sections to get to the historical insights.

Readers who enjoy a blend of personal journey with historical exploration, though, would probably enjoy this book. The historical content is compelling and well-researched, drawing from dozens of sources, including archival material and interviews and De Prada-Samper’s writing is fluid and engaging.

His journey began with a chance discovery of the book Specimens of Bushman Folklore in a second-hand shop in England, and from there, he was pulled into a decades-long exploration of the /xam people’s legacy.

The book shines when it digs deep into the forgotten folklore of the /xam hunter-gatherers of the Upper Karoo, often delving into fable, to explore the richness of this nearly-lost culture and the devastating impact of colonial violence.

While the memoir format didn’t always resonate with me, I respect the passion and depth behind De Prada-Samper’s work. Fading Footprints is a heartfelt tribute to a culture that has endured against great odds.