Publisher's Synopsis
Into Kokerboom Country tells the story, with many fascinating historical photographs previously unpublished, of the Jewish pioneers who, like the kokerboom, dug their roots into the sandy soil of Namaqualand. They transformed their situation from penniless immigrants to established citizens and in the process left 'diep spore' in this remote and isolated region of South Africa. It is a chronicle about a small group of immigrants who sought freedom and economic opportunity in a remote and arid corner of South Africa. Their determination to succeed in carving out a life for themselves and their families is described in a history spanning 120 years, from the mid-1850s to the late 1970s. The Namaqualand Jewish story epitomises the trials, triumphs, challenges and joys of so many Jewish communities throughout the country, and indeed the world. It celebrates the rich cultural history and moral substance of these early pioneers, who remained committed to their Jewish traditions under extremely difficult circumstances. With evocative photographs, original research and colourful memoirs, this is an extraordinary account of courage, fortitude and acculturation.
