N?xau

N!xau (or earlier G!kau; birth name Gcao Coma) (December 16, 1944 - July 1, 2003) was a Namibian bush farmer who was made famous by his roles in the movie The Gods Must Be Crazy and its sequels, in which he played the Kalahari Bushman Xixo. The exclamation mark in his name substitutes for the clicking sound in his native tongue, Ungwatsi, that cannot be rendered in English.

Related Topics:
December 16 - 1944 - July 1 - 2003 - Namibian - Farmer - Role - Movie - The Gods Must Be Crazy - Sequel - Kalahari - Bushman - Exclamation mark - Ungwatsi - English

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In 1992 N!xau appeared in a documentary saying he deeply regretted appearing in the film - but nevertheless starred in a series of sequels with declining quality until 1994's Fei zhou chao ren (The Gods Must Be Funny in China; literally "Superman of Africa"). According to director Jamie Uys, N!xau was said to have let his first $300 wage blow away because he did not see the value of money. However, another story claims he demanded 800,000 South African Rand to appear in the sequel so he could build a house with electricity and a water pump for himself, his three wives and children. After his film career ended, N!xau farmed maize, pumpkins and beans and kept several head of cattle.

Related Topics:
1992 - Documentary - 1994 - Director - Jamie Uys - $ - Wage - Money - South Africa - Rand - Build - House - Electricity - Water pump - Wives - Children - Maize - Pumpkins - Beans - Cattle

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On July 1, 2003, he died from "multi-drug resistant" tuberculosis, while he was out hunting guinea fowl. He was buried on July 12 in a semi-traditional ceremony at Tsumkwe, next to the grave of his second wife.

Related Topics:
July 1 - 2003 - Multi-drug resistant - Tuberculosis - Guinea fowl - July 12 - Ceremony - Tsumkwe - Grave

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N!xau's manager has said that his name was actually G!kau, but was listed as N!xau because of a typing error when the original film was made. The English-language newspaper The Namibian reported that his birth name was Gcao Coma.

Related Topics:
Manager - Name - Typing error - The Namibian

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