As we returned to the village, the Hadzabe women had gathered several
fruits and berries but with weak results. Between the hunt and the foraging,
the result was impressively little and not enough to sustain the tribe.
However, it is said Hadzabe do not encounter famine, being able to find
substance regularly, even if on the limited scale.
The Hadzabe tribes move their camps to follow the game, and even more so when
hunting big animals which body they can’t budge. Given their limited
possession – a pot, a blanket or two – the camp can migrate quickly to
accommodate the hunting needs.
By nature, Hadzabe hunter-gathers go at their tasks daily. The resources,
however, have diminished through to the development around them, and
especially by the Datooga herders clearing the lands where Hadza
traditional live. Dedicated lands have been granted to them by the
Tanzanian government to preserve the traditional way of life. Today a
portion of the village’s revenue comes from the sale of small colorful
bead bracelets. We purchased as a reminder of our experience and to
provide financial support.
That day was a unique view into traditional tribal life in Africa, in a
way of life that only a few still sustain today. We were honored to have
been the witness of these ancestral customs.
Tanzania Travel Resources
Comments
Post a Comment