Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
day's hunt should proceed, and this was useful for it meant hunting was in random directions
and animals were not repeatedly subjected to hunting pressure, which would have reduced the
numbers and made animals progressively more skittish and difficult to hunt. The prophetic
visionary healers hence held a more venerated status in the clan for they could foretell where
animals should be hunted, what would happen, heal the sick, repeat oral history, and lead
dances. Clearly if accurate in predicting where to hunt, this raised the respect for the prophetic
visionary. In the case of the Shangaans, the prophetic rain makers was sometimes living
separately and a hunting party would visit him first bringing food as gifts before consultation
or asking for rain to be produced.
The San Bushmen were a “gift” based economy where gifts of food or water or access to an
area were given in return for later favors; like modern man invites somebody for dinner with
the likelihood the favor will later be returned. Incidentally, research has shown it is better to
pay for the whole bill since only one person feels the pain of the expense, rather than all
paying a share and sharing the pain. We do somebody a favor, that favor will often be returned
later but reciprocity has to be delayed otherwise it looks like trade. The same applies to the
Bantu/Nguni practice of giving gifts and then later favors are returned. This custom has
relevance to understanding how things are often done in Africa, but of course it can go too far
and then become blatant corruption. The ANC was given support by countries like Sweden
during the apartheid struggle and in return Swedish companies received many contracts when
the ANC took control. The political elite in Africa are given or give favors and in return the
gift is repaid later. There is even a name for it: “bongelela”.
Hierarchical leadership of the hunter-gatherer clan however was not tolerated and in the
case of the Hadza, anybody who aspired to a leadership, other than showing extraordinary
shaman abilities, was quickly brought down to size, even with fellow clan members, like
women throwing sticks and stones at aspiring leaders, just like the Nguni saying of striking the
bull between the eyes. Clearly, the hunter-gatherers likely accepted one person as leader for
the hunt, another for the dances, another for healing, and it is unlikely one person was raised to
lead for all situations. Rather leadership was based on the “expert” in a particular field of
endeavor. Paradoxically, the hunter-gatherers were anti leadership yet any modern book shop
is filled in the business section with topics on leadership, probably because we struggle with it
because it is not part of our psychology to hand over all leadership to one person to laud over
a group. Once again, that is why modern “shamans” that appear to foresee the future are
venerated beyond their abilities. It is not surprising that in modern day politics if a politician
does not show abilities beyond the normal population, they rapidly become unpopular, for
example the House of Congress is currently at 9% approval rating. Similarly, if Presidents are
not found to be the modern equivalents of prophetic visionaries, able to foresee the future and
where to obtain food or contracts, they are quickly deposed from their elevated positions. If
the reverse is true and they do show the right direction, by improving the economy or ridding
the society of predators like terrorists (Bin Laden), they are hailed as long as the last hunt is
remembered. While the hunter remembers the hunt forever, those that benefit rarely have long
memories. Will the hunt for Bin Laden be remembered or help President Obama in the next
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