Atlantic journalist Stephanie McCrummen says foreign interests are acquiring Serengeti territory in Northern Tanzania, effectively displacing indigenous cattle-herders from their traditional grazing lands. McCrummen spoke with Dave Davies about the billionaires, conservation groups, and safari tourism in this story. Also, John Powers reviews the TV adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Sympathizer. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
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This is FRESH AIR.
I'm Dave Davies.
In a world of global warming and habitat destruction, programs to protect wilderness and travel to visit remaining natural lands and species are appealing.
But our guest, journalist Stephanie McCruman, writes that in many parts of the world, indigenous people are being evicted from their lands to make way for ecotourism, carbon offset schemes, and other activities that fall under the banner of conservation.
In a new article in the Atlantic, she focuses on the Maasai, pastoral tribespeople who for centuries have herded cattle and goats in northern Tanzania.
She writes that the Maasai are increasingly being forced off traditional grazing lands to make way for foreign investors, including the royal family of Dubai, who wanted an exclusive game reserve for hunting expeditions.
The Maasai's displacement, she writes, has been accomplished in part through harsh government measures, including arrests, confiscation of livestock, and lethal violence.
Stephanie McCrummen is a staff writer at the Atlantic.
She previously worked at the Washington Post, where she covered national politics and served as the papers East Africa bureau chief.
Among her journalistic honors are the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting for coverage of Roy Moores 2017 Alabama Senate campaign and two George Polk awards.
Her new article in the Atlantic is this will finish us how golf princes, the safari industry and conservation groups are displacing the Maasai from the last of their Serengeti homeland.
Well, Stephanie McCrummen, welcome to Fresh Air.
Thanks for having me.
Let's begin with the Maasai.
Tell us about them, their way of life.
You know, traditionally, well, the Maasai are pastoralists.