The Hadzabe

Hadza oral history divides their past into four epochs, each inhabited by a different people: the Tlaatlanebe, Gelanebe, Hamaishonebe and Hamakwabe. In these stories some ancestors lived in caves, some were giant and hairy, and others protected themselves with charms, and the way of life changes from one epoch to the next.

The Hadza move their camps with the seasons as the food available changes from fruits, roots and berries to honey and meat. Their traditional ranges include Tliihika, Siponga, Mang'ola and Dunduhina. Men and women each have their own roles in finding food: berries, fruits, roots, leaves, honey and meat are all collected from the bush. Their partnership with the honeyguide bird, built on a whistled dialogue, is one of the best-known examples of cooperation between people and a wild animal. Most Hadza marriages are monogamous, though there is no social rule enforcing it, and both men and women value hard work as well as looks in a partner.

Many Hadza still wear traditional clothing of animal skins: men may wear the pelt of a small predator or a baboon, while women often prefer impala hide, decorated with beads and shells. Nothing is wasted, as the meat is eaten and the skin worn. Land loss and outside pressures are real challenges, and community-led tourism, with fees paid directly to the community, is one way visitors can help.