Humility is an important quality in individuals, society, and culture. It can be developed through various methods such as psychological exercises, facing misfortune, or making costly mistakes. In the story “Eating Christmas in the Kalahari,” this is evident in the experiences of Ontah, an anthropologist. In order to show gratitude to the !Kung Bushmen and their families for their cooperation, Ontah decided to purchase the largest and meatiest ox he could find for their Christmas festivities. Having lived with the !Kung Bushmen for three years, Ontah was familiar with the Tswana-Herrero tradition of slaughtering an ox for Christmas. Thus, it is clear that his choice of ox was not that of an inexperienced person. However, he was surprised when rumors spread around the village and he was accused of picking an ox that had no value and was nothing but skin and bones.
Ontah carefully measured and assessed the size of the ox he intended to purchase. The ox stood at a height of five feet at the shoulders, measured five feet across the horns, and was estimated to weigh 1200 pounds. Based on Ontah’s expert calculations regarding consumption, he concluded that this ox would be sufficient to provide food for every man, woman, and child among the 150 Bushmen residing in the area. However, to Ontah’s surprise, everyone in the village claimed that the ox he chose was emaciated and would dampen the excitement of the festivities. In addition, they argued that the ox would not be enough to feed everyone, potentially leading to rivalries and accusations among the Bushmen over who took too much meat or kept the best parts for themselves. Despite facing constant complaints and ridicule from his fellow villagers, Ontah was tempted to skip the Christmas festivities. Nevertheless, his passion for anthropology outweighed his desire to avoid shame and drove him to persevere.
The Bushmen would have the chance to witness the reaction of their tribe when the meat of the old skinny ox supposedly ran out during the Christmas morning slaughtering and distribution. The ox was swiftly killed with a single shot to its head on that festive morning. As the men got ready to carve up the ox, Ontah stood nearby to assess his choice and it became evident that this ox would provide more than enough food for everyone. Ontah reveled in the plentiful fat, meat, and sizable bones of the ox.
Among the festivities, the Bushmen laughed at Ontah’s relief from frustration, intermingling with his celebration. Ontah acknowledged that he had become the subject of a joke, although this did little to ease his perplexing encounter. Furthermore, it heightened his confusion as to why the entire village would partake in such a terrible prank. However, by probing his sources, Ontah managed to uncover the true meaning behind the joke. These villagers have a profound connection to nature and rely on hunting for sustenance.
When a hunter successfully brings in a kill, it is deemed inappropriate for him to boast about it. Consequently, the achievements and rewards of these hunters are consistently undermined. A source informed Ontah that if a young hunter slays a large creature, he develops an inflated ego and looks down upon others. Such behavior is not tolerated. If a person who boasts remains unchecked, their excessive pride will ultimately lead them to harm someone else.
The reason why all kills are considered to be worthless is because a hunter should have a modest and humble attitude towards their kill. Sharing a kill with the rest of the village is a common practice and not something significant. This game of the mind led Ontah to reflect on himself for a moment.
He was viewed as an outsider because he had a constant two months supply of food and did not share it. This made people think of him as stingy and a miser. He was the sole provider of tobacco in a large area. Sometimes, he would refuse to give tobacco to those who did not cooperate with him. It is understandable that there were misunderstandings considering the situation.
He was seen as arrogant, making him the ideal candidate to learn a lesson in humility.
