The Hadza: Last of the First

NARRATED BY ALFRE WOODARD

The Hadza, East Africa's last remaining true hunter-gatherers, have lived on their land near the Rift Valley for over 50,000 years. As globalization and technology encroach on their territory, their way of life has been slowly whittled away from them.

This documentary serves as a comprehensive look at their customs -- from dating rituals to schooling to foraging to weapons production -- as explained by several natives and noted anthropologists. Animations illustrate their creation belief and the origin of fire.

The Hadza: Last of the First serves as a call to action to establish a protective land corridor for the survival of this community.

FEATURED IN THE FILM

Richard Wrangham, Evolutionary Anthropologist, Harvard University
Spencer Wells, Anthropologist, National Geographic Society
David Banks, The Nature Conservancy, Africa
Alyssa Crittenden, Biocultural Anthropologist, University of Nevada
Daudi Peterson, Director, Dorobo Fund Tanzania
Paul T Zeleza, Historian, Quinnipiac University
Cassandra Veney, Political Scientist, Quinnipiac University
Peter Matthiessen, Author, The Tree Where Man Was Born
Jane Goodall, Primatologist

Filmmaker's Statement: "I felt that perhaps by bringing the world's attention to the Hadza I could help protect their unique lives from oblivion. To help the Hadza survive, we must help secure their homeland."
-Bill Benneson

Preview link available upon request. Contact support@videoproject for more information

A Film by Bill and Laurie Benenson

71 minutes

Scene Selection • Closed Captioned

Grades 6 - Adult

Item #: HAD-1126

Documentary serves as a comprehensive look at the customs of the Hazda, East Africa's last remaining hunter-gatherers

Starting at $79

Licensing Options

K-12 Schools, Libraries, Community Groups - $79 K-12 DVD + Digital File - $129 Colleges, Businesses, Other Institutions: DVD - $149 Colleges (DVD with Digital Site License) - $249

Reviews and Festivals

"Recommended. Benenson crafts a comprehensive and cogent film, making the audience care about this ancient, indigenous culture. The measured narration style by Alfre Woodard lends credibility as she elaborates on Hadza society...Should be added to academic and high school library collections supporting global world views, especially in relation to the environment."
— Educational Media Reviews Online

"Bill Benenson's lovely documentary about a people in Tanzania who live [as hunter-gatherers] today and remind us what a sustainable way of life really looks like...Articulate and sympathetic experts, a calmly authoritative narrator, powerfully conversational subtitles, and breathtaking scenery enliven the film's message."
— New York Times

"Bill Benenson's affecting anthropological documentary...A nonetheless fascinating portrait of a little-known people who have lived on their land for over 50,000 years."
— The Hollywood Reporter

"Although the Hadza's way of life seems primitive, the egalitarian society appears far more civilized than ours. The film proves most valuable when Hadza subjects candidly discuss their clashes with modernity."
— Los Angeles Times

"Viewing experience is ripe with wonder, as cameras give audiences a rare chance to observe the Hadza's hunting trips, foraging methods, organic food preparation, and social interactions, which don't appear to be all that different from our own."
— The Wrap

"A fascinating, watchable documentary on the Hadza people of Tanzania. Anyone interested in hunter-gatherers and their lives in today's world, as well as their contribution to our understanding of human evolution will want to see it."
— Anthropology Book Forum

"Recommended. Successfully introduces viewers to the ways of hunter gatherers and the challenges they face."
— School Library Journal

"Bill Benenson's documentary serves up a fascinating portrait of the Hadza...Offering an intriguing look at a still-vibrant but increasingly imperiled way of life, this is highly recommended."
— Video Librarian

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