N!xau Toma, the lead actor in "The Gods Must Be Crazy", was initially paid just $300 for his role

N!xau Toma was a Namibian farmer and actor best known for his role in the 1980 film The Gods Must Be Crazy. His portrayal of Xi, a Kalahari Bushman who discovers a mysterious Coca-Cola bottle, made him an international sensation. However, behind his rise to fame was a story of cultural contrast, economic exploitation, and the simplicity of a man who never aspired to stardom.

One of the most shocking details about N!xau’s involvement in the film was his initial payment—a mere $300, despite the film grossing over $100 million worldwide. This revelation has sparked debates about ethical compensation, cultural exploitation, and the treatment of indigenous actors in the global entertainment industry.

N!xau’s Early Life and Discovery

N!xau was a member of the San people (also known as Bushmen), an indigenous ethnic group in southern Africa known for their hunter-gatherer lifestyle. He lived in a remote part of Namibia with little to no exposure to modern civilization. Unlike trained actors, N!xau had no prior experience with film, acting, or even money.

When filmmaker Jamie Uys sought a native Bushman to star in his comedy film, he came across N!xau and cast him in the lead role. Uys wanted an authentic portrayal of a San tribesman, and N!xau, with his natural charisma and expressive face, was the perfect choice.


The Gods Must Be Crazy: A Global Phenomenon

Released in 1980, The Gods Must Be Crazy tells the story of a San man, Xi, who finds a glass Coca-Cola bottle dropped from an airplane. Believing it to be a gift from the gods, he embarks on a journey to dispose of it after realizing it causes conflict among his people. His journey intertwines with comedic misunderstandings involving modern civilization.

The film was an unexpected global hit. It became one of the highest-grossing foreign films in history, making over $100 million worldwide. The humor, simple storytelling, and cultural contrast resonated with audiences, particularly in Western countries. However, many critics later viewed the film as a problematic portrayal of African indigenous people, reinforcing stereotypes.

The Controversy Over N!xau’s Payment

Despite the film’s massive financial success, N!xau was reportedly paid only about $300 for his role. The reason for this low payment has been widely debated. Some claim that because N!xau had no concept of money at the time, he did not negotiate for fair compensation. There are also stories that he let his first earnings blow away in the wind, not understanding their value.

However, this situation highlighted a broader issue—Hollywood and global cinema’s history of underpaying indigenous actors, especially those from marginalized backgrounds. N!xau’s lack of knowledge about modern finance was taken advantage of, and he did not receive a share of the film’s enormous profits.

N!xau Learns the Value of Money

After realizing the importance of money, N!xau became more cautious about his earnings. By the time he starred in The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989), he negotiated a much higher payment, reportedly around $500,000. He later appeared in a few other films, mainly in Hong Kong cinema, where he was better compensated.

Despite his brief success in the film industry, N!xau never sought fame or a luxurious lifestyle. He used his earnings to build a brick house for his family, a significant upgrade from the traditional huts of his community.

Return to a Simple Life and Final Years

N!xau eventually retired from acting and returned to his rural life in Namibia. He preferred farming and hunting over the glitz of cinema. Unlike many actors who chase stardom, N!xau remained grounded, choosing to live according to his people's traditions.

In 2003, at the age of 59, N!xau passed away, reportedly from tuberculosis. His death marked the end of an extraordinary journey—from a hunter-gatherer in the Kalahari to a globally recognized film star and back to the simple life he always preferred.

 

Ethical Questions

N!xau’s story raises important discussions about the ethical treatment of indigenous actors and fair compensation in the film industry. While The Gods Must Be Crazy remains a beloved film, its production and financial dealings serve as a cautionary tale about exploitation.

His life is a reminder that success is defined differently by different cultures. While many saw him as an actor who did not fully capitalize on his fame, N!xau saw himself as a man who valued family, tradition, and simplicity over material wealth. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Geographic Analysis of Africa

Image
Africa in a Geographic Analysis POSITION AND SIZE Africa is believed to be the second largest continent on earth. Africa’s area is approximated to be about 11.5 millions square miles. It stretches for around 35o on each side of the equator and it is crossed by both Tropics. This makes the bulk of the continent to be in the tropical latitudes. Base on the shape of Africa, the north of the equator is bigger than that to the south. PHYSICAL FEATURES The continent has Atlas Mountains in the north-west which form part of the old-world fold mountain system. There is also the existence of a huge plateau rising by steep escarpments from narrow coastal plains. A line of the plateau slightly convex towards the south-east, extending from the mouth of the Congo to Port Sudan on the Red Sea, divides the plateau into two regions differing in elevation. The north-west of the plateau portion of the plateau is comparatively low plateau consisting mainly of the Sahara Desert crossing from south-e...
Read more

Queen Nzinga Mbande: The Warrior Queen of Angola (1583–1663)

Image
  Queen Nzinga Mbande, who is also known as Anna Nzinga, was a legendary ruler of the Mbundu kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba in the present-day Angola. She will forever be remembered with pride among her people because of her fierce resistance to the advances of the Portuguese colonizers and the transatlantic slave trade throughout the 17th century. A skillful diplomat and visionary military strategist, Nzinga ruled over her people for more than 30 years, emerging as a symbol of African resistance and endurance. Nzinga was born to king Kiluanji of Ndongo in 1583, who discovered her great intelligence and educated her in the kingly art. In the process, she followed her father to wars and learned both the art of ruling and warfare. To him followed a brother who took over from their father and continued producing zer0 alliances with the Portuguese, which allowed the Portuguese to increase their slave-trading operations in the area. In the year 1617, damage was inflicted on Ndongo by th...
Read more

Rop Rockshelter in West Africa: Evidence of the Late Stone Age

Image
  One of the Rock shelters discovered in West Africa is Rop rock shelter. It is located some 50km southwest of Jos, Nigeria. This rockshelter was excavated in 1944 by Bernard Fagg and his team.   Bernard Fagg was a British Archaeologists and Museum curator who undertook series of extensive works in the Nigerian area before and after the Second World War.   In 1964, Ekpo Eyo and Robert Soper of the National Museum and University of Ibadan respectively embarked on further research works in the site.   The results of these early excavations were basically contradictory. This led to the 1974 excavations carried out by Nicholas David and his team. Nicholas David was a Professor of Archaeology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.   According to S. Oluwole Ogundele, the materials found in Rop rockshelter are in two clear cultural phases. They are Aceramic and Ceramic.       Aceramic: They are made of microliths such as lunates...
Read more