The documentary, The Hadza: Last of the First, highlights the hunting and gathering practices and way of life of the Hadza tribe in Tanzania. I like how the film reflects the natural lifestyle of the Hadza, such as construction, social life, and hunting techniques. The historical prologue of the tribe creates a connection of how the Hadza settled in Tanzania and described their association with wildlife. Depicting how the Hadza have developed a mutual relationship with other animals, such as the honeyguide, is astonishing. The interviewers must understand the tribes’ native language for accurate communication throughout the documentary. I like how the film details facing the population today, particularly the challenges of the modern world economy and deteriorating land territory.
However, when describing Hadza’s mythology, an animated segment with commentary is utilized to depict belief. Using animation to describe the tribes’ evolution makes the documentary falter since the content of the animation is incompatible with the context of the film. I would have preferred direct narration of the mythology by the Hadza tribe. Additionally, the endless commentary makes the documentary wearisome. I urge the filmmakers to spend time on the Hadza’s unique survival techniques and adaptations, such as when attacked by hostile or venomous animals.
Among the questions arising from the documentary is whether the Hadza have existing heritage values or beliefs about the baboons drawing from their mythology. I seek to understand if the Tanzanian government recognizes the tribe through identification documents, protection of their ancestral lands and provision of basic amenities such as healthcare. Moreover, since the documentary describes that the Hadza practice barter trade with honey, how do they approximate trading value in the current dynamic economy?