The Meleka Foundation

The Meleka Foundation Empowering the Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania through education, health and community support.

The Hadza are the last remaining hunter-gatherers in Tanzania, and one of the last in the world. Meleka is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization aimed to support the Hadza through initiatives that empower the community and improve livelihood.

07/30/2026

Hunters from Endamagha Camp take turns sharing a message.

07/29/2026

Back in the bush with Ha!’a after our Zanzibar adventure. He hits the target on the first try!

Full circle moment with Gangida, pictured beside a poster of himself around 10 years old. He’s one of the kids who inspi...
07/24/2026

Full circle moment with Gangida, pictured beside a poster of himself around 10 years old. He’s one of the kids who inspired our organization. Now at 22, he’s a husband and a father.

Gangida has always been drawn to the old ways. Even as a young boy, he felt most at home in the bush, connected to nature and the traditional Hadza way of life. When he was a kid, he was enrolled in school, but he would often run away and return to the bush.

Choosing the traditional way of living isn’t about rejecting the modern world (he loves music, has a local phone, +). It’s about choosing the life that feels most authentic to him.

07/16/2026

Hiking through Masingini Nature Forest Reserve in Zanzibar. X’oxa’, Juli, and Dududale share their knowledge of fruits and insect life. Even in this very different tropical landscape, there are plants and creatures that remind us of the bush. Some things are new, like kichikichi, the raw fruit of the oil palm. Then there is the jongoo, or giant African millipede. Not as common, but familiar, it moves slowly on hundreds of legs. Curled into a tight spiral, it can easily be mistaken for a fallen seed, nut, or small rock. Best to leave it where it is, since it releases a secretion that can burn your eyes.

We are very thankful for the positive press following the premiere of We Are Hadza at ZIFF. These quotes reflect everyth...
07/11/2026

We are very thankful for the positive press following the premiere of We Are Hadza at ZIFF. These quotes reflect everything we hoped to achieve with this film.

This is only the beginning, and we’re excited to keep sharing with audiences around the world. We truly appreciate all of the love and support we have been receiving.

See the link in our bio to read more.

07/09/2026

Some of our favorite moments from Stone Town.
Asante sana, Zanzibar. Tunatumai kurudi tena hivi karibuni.

07/06/2026

During ZIFF, many of us were visiting Zanzibar for the first time, so every day brought a new experience! One day we took a boat to Prison Island to see the giant tortoises, some of which are over 100 years old. We were all surprised by how much bigger they are than the tortoises in the Hadza region. It was also the first time many of us had been in a small boat, so there was lots of laughter, singing and excitement!

During ZIFF, many of us were visiting Zanzibar for the first time, so every day brought a new exciting experience! One d...
07/06/2026

During ZIFF, many of us were visiting Zanzibar for the first time, so every day brought a new exciting experience! One day we took a boat to Prison Island to see the giant tortoises, some of which are over 100 years old. We were all surprised by how much bigger they are than the tortoises in the Hadza region. It was also the first time many of us had been in a small boat, so there was lots of laughter, singing and excitement!

At ZIFF, we had the opportunity to take part in several panel discussions, including an important conversation on the im...
07/04/2026

At ZIFF, we had the opportunity to take part in several panel discussions, including an important conversation on the impact of content creation and AI, attended by government official from the Tanzanian Film Board.

This is an urgent issue for the Hadza community. Too often, content creators arrive with their own agendas, using the community’s image for personal gain. Many of these videos are staged, lack context, and fail to represent the Hadza with the accuracy and dignity they deserve. At present, there are no meaningful regulations to protect the community from this kind of exploitation.

We’re committed to continuing these conversations with government leaders to advocate for stronger protections and ethical standards moving forward.
What makes this even more concerning is that many of the people creating this content show little regard for the well-being of the individuals they film. During the production of several videos, Chaba became seriously ill on multiple occasions, yet no one involved sought medical care for him. It wasn’t until Meleka stepped in that he received the hospital treatment he urgently needed. We could not believe it.

The community deserves to have their stories told with respect and care—not exploitation.

Address

PO Box 74808
Los Angeles, CA
90004

Website

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