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How do Meat Scarcity and Bushmeat Commodification Influence Sharing and Giving among Forest Foragers? A View from the Central African Republic

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Abstract

Meat sharing is a societal norm among hunter-gatherer societies that provisions families and supports social networks. Meat is also a valued resource central to traditional barter exchange. Ethnographic research often cites prey scarcity and commodification as two factors reducing traditional meat transactions among indigenous Central African foragers. We present quantitative data based on ethnographic observations of foragers in the Central African Republic that show that neither scarcity nor commodification eliminates sharing. The bushmeat market is associated with changes in village demographic structure that limits the distribution of meat among extended kin. Although cash generated from the sale of forest products reduces the need for inter-ethnic barter, gift giving and exchange maintain these important relationships. Our data show the persistence of traditional meat transactions and identify potential changes in demographic structure as a less obvious outcome of the bushmeat trade that can have extended consequences for forager populations.

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Notes

  1. We once observed a blue duiker tail with nominal amounts of attached meat given to an individual in response to a demand for meat.

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Acknowledgements

The research presented here was supported by grants from the L.S.B. Leakey Foundation, Washington State University, and the National Science Foundation and was permitted by the Central African Republic Office of Scientific and Technological Research. A number of individuals provided insights, logistical support, and/or technical assistance; we thank Jason Fancher, Hillary Fouts, Alain Kolet Guy, Barry Hewlett, Matt Landt, R. Lee Lyman, Eduard Mboula, George Ngasse, Alain Peneloin, Timothee Tikouzou, and the late Jean-Baptiste Bobi and Jean Makenzi. Special thanks to all of the Grima and Ndele foragers and farmers who tolerated our work with good-humor and treated us like family. This research would not have been possible without their kindness.

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This study was funded by grants from the National Science Foundation (grant number 0003988), the L.S.B. Leakey Foundation and Washington State University.

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  1. Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University, P.O. Box 750336, Dallas, TX, 75275, USA

    Karen D. Lupo & Dave N. Schmitt

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Correspondence to Karen D. Lupo.

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This research and all protocols for collecting information were approved by the IRB for human subjects at Washington State University. Research permits were granted by the Directeur Général des Reserches Scientifiques et Technologiques in Bangui (permit 018).

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Lupo, K.D., Schmitt, D.N. How do Meat Scarcity and Bushmeat Commodification Influence Sharing and Giving among Forest Foragers? A View from the Central African Republic. Hum Ecol 45, 627–641 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-017-9933-2

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