Learning the art of tanning from the San community

We are the San community of the Kalahari Desert, known to be the region's earliest inhabitants. Over the years, we have learned to endure and adapt to the harsh wilderness of this land.

The hides of wild animals have long been part of our essential resource trove. Before tanning, the skin is pegged down to keep it stretched and intact. It then undergoes three vital stages: cleaning, tanning, and currying.

The first step is to remove the animal’s hair and outer layers. Using a solid rock, we scrape and sand away the epidermis and subcutis. Liquid fat is then worked into the dermis. Finally, the skins are smoked to make them durable and resistant to the elements.

The remaining fat and muscle from the outer and inner layers are cleaned right after skinning, usually with a sharp-edged scraper. Scraping off the hair often follows immediately while the skin is still fresh and untreated.

A selected hide is sometimes soaked in water overnight or longer before being washed and cleaned the next morning. It is then softened using a mixture of cattle urine and by allowing cattle to walk over it.

To scrub the animal skin, roots are mashed into a pulp with a little water after removing the bark. This scrub is then dipped in the urine mixture and spread over the skin.

After that, the paste is rubbed into the hide by pressing it against a tree limb or using the hand until the skin softens.

Once the skin has been washed several times, a process called “currying” begins. Currying involves various steps like regularly rubbing in fat, intermittent drying, and other skilled techniques to preserve and soften the hide.

The hides are then spread out on a wooden rack and left to dry until stone hard.

From partial to full tanning, hides are transformed into tough armor and shields or softened like fabric for clothing and blankets. A variety of methods are employed to create these diverse products from animal skin.