By Steve Bradshaw Executive Producer, Life on the Edge
By Steve Bradshaw Executive Producer, Life on the Edge
Deep in the Tanzanian bush, the Hadza have a decision to make.
Deep in the Tanzanian bush, the Hadza have a decision to make.
Should they follow Baallow, the charismatic leader who wants to take them into the prosperous, globalised 21 Century? Or should they ignore him and try to cling on to a way of life they love?
Should they follow Baallow, the charismatic leader who wants to take them into the prosperous, globalised 21 Century? Or should they ignore him and try to cling on to a way of life they love?
We join Baallow as he is revving up his Honda in Tanzania's commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. He is about 50 years old and you might take him for a middle-aged biker, but a biker with a gleam in his eye.
We join Baallow as he is revving up his Honda in Tanzania's commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. He is about 50 years old and you might take him for a middle-aged biker, but a biker with a gleam in his eye.
Today, he is setting off on a tour of his tribal lands, in the Yaeda Valley close to Lake Eyasi.
Today, he is setting off on a tour of his tribal lands, in the Yaeda Valley close to Lake Eyasi.
Baallow has a mission: he says the Hadza have no choice but to follow his lead. They must fight for their land rights. It is time, he says, for the Hadza to realise they are being left behind by the rest of the world.
Baallow has a mission: he says the Hadza have no choice but to follow his lead. They must fight for their land rights. It is time, he says, for the Hadza to realise they are being left behind by the rest of the world.
Hunter-gatherers
Hunter-gatherers
"Our life here - and I'm not talking about the Hadza only, but of the Africans in general - is very different to the life of the Europeans, because they saw ahead first.
"Our life here - and I'm not talking about the Hadza only, but of the Africans in general - is very different to the life of the Europeans, because they saw ahead first.
Some Hadza have given up the nomadic life for government help
Some Hadza have given up the nomadic life for government help
"Maybe it is just a blessing, maybe God liked them better. You see, they have made planes that go to the moon, they have almost reached the sun. And us, we still don't know how to make a car in Tanzania."
"Maybe it is just a blessing, maybe God liked them better. You see, they have made planes that go to the moon, they have almost reached the sun. And us, we still don't know how to make a car in Tanzania."
But the Hadza are not easily convinced. From elders to teenagers, many believe they do have a choice.
But the Hadza are not easily convinced. From elders to teenagers, many believe they do have a choice.
The trouble is, there is no obvious way of making it, and no obvious way of deciding whether to follow Baallow's lead. For the Hadza have no tradition of strong individual leaders and they have had few, if any, big decisions about their future to make.
The trouble is, there is no obvious way of making it, and no obvious way of deciding whether to follow Baallow's lead. For the Hadza have no tradition of strong individual leaders and they have had few, if any, big decisions about their future to make.
They are used to living in the moment, or at least in the season: if you are hungry, for example, pick up the bow and arrow.
They are used to living in the moment, or at least in the season: if you are hungry, for example, pick up the bow and arrow.
You do not have to be a cultural relativist to recognise this is not ignorance but a legitimate, maybe attractive, way of seeing the world.
You do not have to be a cultural relativist to recognise this is not ignorance but a legitimate, maybe attractive, way of seeing the world.
The Hadza are one of the last tribes of hunter-gatherers in the world. Some are still living - or trying to live - just as they have done for centuries, and probably millennia, others have now settled in villages.
The Hadza are one of the last tribes of hunter-gatherers in the world. Some are still living - or trying to live - just as they have done for centuries, and probably millennia, others have now settled in villages.
In Mongo wa Mono, Baallow visits some Hadza who have given up the nomadic life in return for government help. Here he has a willing audience - tribesmen like Moi, who used to hunt elephant and now cannot even find a baboon.
In Mongo wa Mono, Baallow visits some Hadza who have given up the nomadic life in return for government help. Here he has a willing audience - tribesmen like Moi, who used to hunt elephant and now cannot even find a baboon.
Life in the bush
Life in the bush
"At least," Moi says, "children get educated now so that one day we can lead ourselves."
"At least," Moi says, "children get educated now so that one day we can lead ourselves."
In the more remote bush, Baallow's Honda chugs into Nyoha's Camp, where the Hadza still live in the old way.
In the more remote bush, Baallow's Honda chugs into Nyoha's Camp, where the Hadza still live in the old way.
Hadza children often play truant from school
Hadza children often play truant from school
Although he now lives in the small town of Mbulu, here is where his heart is. "For me, the land is my mother... even if you throw me in a pot and you cook me for hours, I am a Hadza! I cannot change!"
Although he now lives in the small town of Mbulu, here is where his heart is. "For me, the land is my mother... even if you throw me in a pot and you cook me for hours, I am a Hadza! I cannot change!"
Here many are not happy with the idea of "development".
Here many are not happy with the idea of "development".
Maadi, a 20-year-old mother of two, says: "When Baallow comes here he tells us about progress and development. I don't know if I could survive in a town because I am used to life in the bush, in the town there are no wild fruits and tubers, and no trees".
Maadi, a 20-year-old mother of two, says: "When Baallow comes here he tells us about progress and development. I don't know if I could survive in a town because I am used to life in the bush, in the town there are no wild fruits and tubers, and no trees".
Hadza kids are supposed to go to primary school, but many play truant. Finally, Baallow takes his message to Mango, where Hadza are confronted by incomers, and migrants from other tribes.
Hadza kids are supposed to go to primary school, but many play truant. Finally, Baallow takes his message to Mango, where Hadza are confronted by incomers, and migrants from other tribes.
Here Baallow meets Salibogo, an old Hadza hunter who is still a nomad, of sorts. "He has no land," Baallow says, "these days Salibogo lives between other people's houses."
Here Baallow meets Salibogo, an old Hadza hunter who is still a nomad, of sorts. "He has no land," Baallow says, "these days Salibogo lives between other people's houses."
My job is to show them the way, but it is their job to travel that road Ballow, Hadza campaigner
My job is to show them the way, but it is their job to travel that road Baallow, Hadza campaigner
A farmer from another tribe walks up to Salibogo, demanding to know what he is doing there. Salibogo is more upset and bewildered than angry. He is living like a refugee in the Hadza's ancient land, a land rights deal still not concluded.
A farmer from another tribe walks up to Salibogo, demanding to know what he is doing there. Salibogo is more upset and bewildered than angry. He is living like a refugee in the Hadza's ancient land, a land rights deal still not concluded.
"These days the animals are gone," Salibogo says wistfully. "I get small things like birds, pigeons, mice... I don't want to be hungry and see the backs of other tribes who are ahead of us."
"These days the animals are gone," Salibogo says wistfully. "I get small things like birds, pigeons, mice... I don't want to be hungry and see the backs of other tribes who are ahead of us."
Baallow looks grim, but his point is made. The Hadza need land rights but should they use them to develop, or to protect an ancient way of life which may already have become unsustainable?
Baallow looks grim, but his point is made. The Hadza need land rights but should they use them to develop, or to protect an ancient way of life which may already have become unsustainable?
The Hadza have not decided yet. Sometimes, Baallow himself seems unsure.
The Hadza have not decided yet. Sometimes, Baallow himself seems unsure.
Baallow has a government post, and works for an NGO but aims to give up both once the Hadza have some formal entitlement to their lands.
Baallow has a government post, and works for an NGO but aims to give up both once the Hadza have some formal entitlement to their lands.
"The young ones are here, I have done my part. I am off, I am knockout, there is no more. So my job, is not really my job, it is the people's job, I am just their leader. My job is to show them the way, but it is their job to travel that road."
"The young ones are here, I have done my part. I am off, I am knockout, there is no more. So my job, is not really my job, it is the people's job, I am just their leader. My job is to show them the way, but it is their job to travel that road."
Life on the Edge is broadcast on BBC World News on Tuesdays at 1930 GMT. The films were made for the BBC by TVE.
Life on the Edge is broadcast on BBC World News on Tuesdays at 1930 GMT. The films were made for the BBC by TVE.
Should the Hadza people embrace development? Or cherish their traditional way of life? And how should they make their choice? Send us your comments using the form below:
Should the Hadza people embrace development? Or cherish their traditional way of life? And how should they make their choice? Send us your comments using the form below:
