This documentary photography project focuses on the Hadzabe, a hunter-gatherer community living around Lake Eyasi in northern Tanzania. Their way of life is based on hunting, gathering, and daily interaction with the natural environment.
Hadzabe hunters use bows and arrows with different arrowheads depending on the target. Small game such as birds and monkeys is often hunted individually, while larger animals like dik-dik or warthog are hunted collectively in groups. Success in hunting directly influences access to food.
Hunting is typically organized collectively, with small groups moving through the landscape and sharing knowledge of tracks and animal behavior.
Within the group, certain individuals stand out for their exceptional skill with bow and arrow. One highly respected hunter may take on a leading role and, at times, hunt alone over several days. His experience and success are central to supporting the community’s access to food.
The Hadzabe diet includes meat, honey, berries, and tubers, gathered and consumed on a daily basis without long-term storage.
Knowledge of tracking, plants, and animal behavior is learned through practice and passed on across generations.
