The Hadzabe community, located along the shores of Lake Eyasi in Karatu District, Arusha Region, is among the ethnic groups found within the Ngorongoro–Lengai Geopark circle. This community benefits from the new geological heritage museum (Urithi Geopark) situated in the town of Karatu.
In Tanzania, and across Africa in general, there are various rules and traditions that communities or tribes establish to preserve and honor their customs and cultural heritage.
Among the Hadzabe (also known as Watindiga), engaging in sexual relations outside marriage—commonly known as adultery—is considered a grave curse.
When a married man or woman is caught cheating, the confirmed punishment is death, carried out by the person who witnesses the act. After committing the killing, the witness sounds a loud cry to alert the community, allowing elders to gather and officially announce the incident, which is believed to bring misfortune and a curse upon the family.
The method used to kill those caught in adultery involves shooting them with poisoned arrows, similar to how animals are hunted. The arrows contain potent poison that spreads rapidly throughout the body, causing death within a very short time.
In matters of love and marriage, the Hadzabe have strict rules that require every married man and woman to fully respect their marriage and avoid sexual involvement with anyone other than their spouse.
After marriage, the bride and groom are expected to live lovingly, while the community monitors the couple to ensure neither partner engages in infidelity. The community is vigilant in observing the behavior of married individuals to protect the stability and safety of the family throughout the marriage.
The process of executing adulterous partners is never rushed. A thorough investigation and careful monitoring are conducted until trusted witnesses confirm that the suspects were caught in the act.
According to Hadzabe cultural leader, Elder Shagembe Gambai, the community established this harsh punishment to strengthen family discipline, clan unity, and community order. For this reason, the practice is well-known and respected, making adultery extremely rare among the Hadzabe.
To ensure everyone understands the consequences of infidelity, the execution of those caught is done publicly, witnessed by the entire community. They believe that the act serves as a strong lesson to other married couples to avoid such behavior.
Elder Shagembe explains that marriage among the Hadzabe is not considered a permanent, unbreakable bond. Divorce is allowed, and once separated, individuals are free to remarry—even if the new partner is a close friend or relative of their former spouse.
The Hadzabe do not believe in polygamous marriages. To them, marriage is strictly between one man and one woman. A man is not allowed to marry more than one wife, with the main reason being to maintain love and harmony between the couple.
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