Video: Antoinette Pienaar, the “Shaman’s Apprentice”

by Emily on Dec 3rd, 2008

The film The Shaman’s Apprentice tells the story of Antoinette Pienaar‘s healing and transformation in contact with Griqua “bossie doktor” Johannes Willemse – as detailed in Pienaar’s book, Kruidjie roer my.

The film forms part of a series of shorts called “The Healing Power of Nature”, each short directed by a well-known South African filmmaker. You’ve seen the Kruidjie roer my book, you’ve heard the herbalists speak, and you’ve watched the skyfievertoning. Now it’s time to see the film, which captures Pienaar’s wonderful, self-affirming energy:

Karoo-born, Antoinette had always wanted to uncover the secrets of this vast and mysterious landscape, seemingly barren, yet teeming with life. It took a life-threatening illness to meet the herbalist who was to become her teacher. As it happens, ‘bossie doktor’ Johannes Willemse had seen her arrival in a dream some thirty years before…

In this lyrical, pertinent film Antoinette Pienaar speaks a universal language and connects on an almost primordial level. She tells of her recovery and growing awareness of nature, guided patiently by her mentor’s firm hand and gentle humour.