America through Water�s eyes

Thalefang Charles and Water Setlabosha in NYC PIC. STEVE SPENCE
Thalefang Charles and Water Setlabosha in NYC PIC. STEVE SPENCE

Brought up from the heart of the wilderness at a small island settlement in the Okavango Delta, and straight to New York City’s bright lights and a starring role in a major National Geographic film, this is the journey of Tumeletso ‘Water’ Setlabosha. Staff Writer THALEFANG CHARLES reports

“My people never imagined they could travel this far,” says Tumeletso Setlabosha, the man widely known only as ‘Water’. He is referring to the people of Jao - a small village island in the heart of the Okavango Delta where he was born.

In Jao or Jedibe as the locals sometimes refer to the place, there is nothing, the only concrete structure found there is a Health Post they call “Clinic Ya Ga Iyene”. There are no schools, no shops, no cars, the airstrip has grown anthills and transport from Jao to anywhere outside the island is via a small boat or hand poled mokoro.

Editor's Comment
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