The Language of the Land

In 1997 James Stephenson intended to spend a year living among the Hadzabe in East Africa, living their life, hunting what they hunted, eating what they ate, and participating in their dances and ceremonies. He wanted to catch a glimpse of the world as they perceived it, and this is his account.

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In 1997 James Stephenson arranged to have almost a full year free, a year he wanted to spend among the Hadzabe in East Africa. He had previously visited these people and with every trip his fascination with the Hadzabe deepened, for they are the last hunters and gatherers still living a traditional life in Africa. At the age of 27, Stephenson intended to spend the year living among the Hadzabe, and more importantly, living their life, hunting what they hunted, eating what they ate, participating in their dances and ceremonies, consulting with their medicine men and learning their myths and dreams. Armed only with his camera, his art supplied and the open hearted courage of youth, he set out to live with a people who have changed little since the Stone Age, to glimpse the world as they perceived it and learn the wisdom they had wrested from the land. This remarkable report of his journey and what he learned is adventure/travel writing at its best, reminiscent of Peter beard and Bruce Chatwin.