RECONSIDERING THE “INDIGENOUS PEOPLES” IN THE AFRICAN CONTEXT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF CURRENT LIVELIHOOD AND ITS HISTORICAL CHANGES: THE CASE OF THE SANDAWE AND THE HADZA IN TANZANIA

Abstract

The Sandawe and the Hadza are regarded both hunter-gatherer groups in Tanzania, once categorized as among the vulnerable minority groups subjected to flagrant violationsagainst communal and individual rights in East Africa. Today, the Hadza are recognized as“indigenous peoples” internationally, while the Sandawe are not. To understand the reasons forthe different situations, the author compared their current livelihoods and historical changes.Through the comparison, current livelihood patterns and relationships with and support fromoutsiders were in total contrast between the Hadza and the Sandawe. This article focuses onthree points: 1) The Sandawe who mainly engage in agriculture today are not deemed differentfrom the mainstream of the Tanzanian society. 2) The Sandawe’s agricultural livelihood leavethem free of land violation than would be otherwise if they engaged in hunting and gatheringmainly. 3) The agricultural lifestyle of the Sandawe is unbecoming to image of the indigenouspeoples.