Barabaig: Life, Love and Death on Tanzania's Hanang Plains

by Charles Lane

The Barabaig are a group of nomadic cattle herders in north central Tanzania. In the 1980s, Charles Lane had the privilege of living as one of them. Despite being known as killers by their enemies, he found them to be generous and caring companions, giving him his own cattle and sharing all aspects of their lives. However, their reputation for stealing cattle and killing their foes, has led them to be widely feared and disliked by administrators and neighbors, thereby contributing to the seizure of much of their lands and abuse of their rights.This beautifully illustrated book, photographed by Charles Lane, shows the Barabaig's artistry in many facets of their lives, and provides both a fascinating anthropological record and a visual feast. It also recounts how Charles joined with the Barabaig in an ultimately unsuccessful legal challenge for the loss of their lands. This rich and hitherto sustainable culture is now under threat, ensuring that this book will become an invaluable record.With a Preface from Survival International Director, Stephen Corry, and Foreword by author and activist, George Monbiot.

246 pages, Hardcover

Published February 14, 2018

About the author

Charles Lane is a Washington Post editorial board member and op-ed columnist. A finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize in editorial writing, he was the Post's Supreme Court correspondent prior to joining the editorial board. As editor of The New Republic, he took action against the journalistic fraud of Stephen Glass, events recounted in the 2003 film Shattered Glass. He has also worked as a foreign correspondent in Europe and Latin America. He is the author of two previous books.