The Soil of the Namib: VR

Germany | 2023 | 28 Minutes | Khoekhoegowab, English

“The Soil of the Namib: VR” is a 360° series about illegal mining in Namibia. The three episodes narrate the lives and working conditions of small-scale miners in the context of colonialism.

The traces of German colonial rule are still visible in Namibia today. Lost in the middle of the Namib desert, lies the German ghost town of Kolmanskop, where the diamond rush once began. Kolmanskop became one of the richest places in Africa, but the wealth was not for everyone. The local population was only a means to an end to find more and more treasure, as a large part of the profit remained in the hands of the occupiers. The valuable land was bought and the people who did not want to sell or who resisted the colonial powers were expelled, expropriated or systematically murdered. To this day, many Namibian people still suffer from the consequences of the colonial era. Despite independence, the economic power structures have not changed much. Alongside the many foreign investors, only a small part of the population, profit from the rich Namibian soil, which contains the purest gems in the world.

Due to a lack of prospects, some Namibians work as small-scale miners in illegal mines, risking their lives every day. They are searching for precious stones so that they can cover their daily needs.

The 360° series “The Soil of the Namib: VR” tells this story in three complementary episodes. The first episode “LAND” deals with the issue of land theft and the identity of the local people. The following episode “WRAITHS” immerses viewers in the past and recounts the start of the diamond rush in Namibia and the ghosts of the past. The last episode, “DARK,” takes viewers into shoulder-width, illegal mine ducts and accompanies two small-scale miners during their sweaty underground work.

Credits

Original Score: Christian Dellacher
Production company: TIME PRINTS
Partners & Funding: Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and Saarland Medien