Deep in the heart of the Tanzanian bush, the Hadzabe people — one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes in Africa — continue to live much as their ancestors did thousands of years ago. Among their traditional practices is the hunting and consumption of wild animals, including monkeys, which are part of their natural diet.
One morning, a small group of Hadzabe hunters, armed with handmade bows and poison-tipped arrows, tracked a monkey through the acacia woodlands. After hours of patient movement and stealth, a successful shot brought down the animal. For the Hadzabe, every hunt is a vital act of survival, not sport. Nothing is wasted.
After the kill, the hunters gathered dry twigs and branches to make a fire. In the shade of a thorn tree, they began roasting the monkey over open flames. The fur was singed off as the fire crackled beneath it, releasing a strong scent into the air. The hunters turned the body carefully, making sure it cooked evenly. When the meat was ready, they used knives carved from bone or metal scraps to cut it into pieces.
Sitting in a circle, they shared the roasted meat among themselves. Eating together is a sacred moment of bonding in Hadzabe culture. As they chewed the smoky, charred flesh, they laughed and told stories, passing knowledge and memories through generations.
To outsiders, such a scene may seem raw or even unsettling, but to the Hadzabe, it represents life, tradition, and survival. Their connection to the land and its creatures is profound, shaped by necessity and deep respect. The monkey is not just food — it is part of a cycle that has sustained their people for centuries in the wilds of East Africa.\
