Ancestral health research
UBUNDA is Dr. Ludidi’s ancestral health project. Its aim: to learn from communities that still live in the rhythm of their environment, and to translate that wisdom to modern life.
The name joins two Xhosa words: ubuntu, humanness, and funda, learning.
The Human Wisdom Project: where ancestral health and research collide
Four ways of living
What can different ways of living teach us about health and longevity? The project compares four types of communities, from hunter-gatherers to city dwellers.
01
Hunter-gatherers
02
Pastoralists
03
Farmers
04
City dwellers
200
participants from four types of communities in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana
3
outputs: scientific papers, a documentary and a book
2027
fieldwork, following a pilot in 2026
2028
documentary release and partner premiere
In a multi-level scientific study, we aim to:
1. Investigate potentially ‘lost’ knowledge related to food, lifestyle and health.
2. Investigate four ways of living today and their biological health determinants, body measurements, foot function and shape, and lifestyle: rhythm, food, movement and rest.
3. Translate our findings into practical applications that people today can use to improve their health and wellbeing.
4. Share our findings through a documentary and written works.
The research journey
From Johannesburg to the Hadzabe
1 · Johannesburg, South Africa
City dwellers
2 · Askham, South Africa
San · ‡Khomani
3 · Opuwo, Cunene, Namibia
Ova Himba
4 · Tsumeb, Namibia · Ombili Foundation
San · !Xun and Hai||om
5 · Tsumkwe, Namibia
San · Ju/’hoansi
6 · Okavango, Botswana
Bayeyi
7 · Lake Eyasi, Tanzania
Hadzabe
Timeline
How the project grew
Early 2022
An idea was born.
Mid 2022
Pitch to production company Newbe
Late 2022
Documentary pitched to international broadcasters
2023
Support from the Ministry of Health, South Africa
Mid 2025
Revival through the link with My Foot Function’s foot study: The Shoe Effect™
Late 2025
First field visits in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Tanzania, meeting San, Ova Himba, Bayeyi and Hadzabe communities
2026
Pilot visit to Southern Africa
2027 and beyond
Dedicated research led by Dr. Ludidi, with My Foot Function and North-West University
Scroll to follow the timeline →
Including
The Shoe Effect™
What does footwear do to the human foot over time? The Shoe Effect™, the project’s foot study led by Joseph Stone and My Foot Function, measures how lifestyle and shoe use shape foot function and alignment, using Volumental 3D foot scans and plantar pressure analysis.
By comparing people with very different footwear habits, it looks at the effect of shoes rather than ancestry or genetics. A first pilot ran in Sri Lanka.
Visit The Shoe Effect
The people behind
The team
Research
Dr. Samefko Ludidi
RSA-NED
Project director and scientist
Health by Science | UBUNDA
Joseph Stone
SWE
Co-founder and field researcher
My Foot Function | The Shoe Effect™
Prof. Dr. Andries Monyeki
RSA
Head of research, anthropometry and biology
North-West University
Prof. Dr. Danny Han
NED
Food experience and translational research
Zuyd University of Applied Sciences
Prof. Dr. Paul Manger
RSA
Determinants of health and sleep research
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Dr. Joshua Davimes
RSA
Field researcher
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Dr. Ales Jurca
SWE
Head of foot research
Volumental
Audiovisual
Partners
Research and project partners
Partner with us
Join the Human Wisdom Project
We are looking for partners who share our curiosity about how we live, eat, move and rest. Five partnership levels, from a name in the credits to presenting partner, with fieldwork in 2027 and a partner premiere in 2028.
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