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Who are The Nemadi Hunters?

Published February 6th, 2020 - 11:42 GMT

In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing, according to AFP.

Experts say the small ethnic group of black Mauritanians, also known as N'Madi, now number in the hundreds at most, their livelihoods hit by repeated droughts and declining game.

Those who are left mostly scour the desert for ostriches, oryxes and white antelope to hunt.

In January, AFP travelled for five days between the desert hamlets of Tichitt and Aratane in central Mauritania, guided by three Nemadi: Ahmadou, his son Ahmed and a third man named Cheih.

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Ahmed(20), from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania, is seen leading a camel along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

Ahmed(20), from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania, is seen leading a camel along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

Ahmed(20), from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania, pulls water out of one of the few water wells along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

Ahmed(20), from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania, pulls water out of one of the few water wells along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

Young men from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania are seen in the Loudeyatt Nemadi Camp on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

Young men from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania are seen in the Loudeyatt Nemadi Camp on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

A woman from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania is seen inside her families tent in the Loudeyatt Nemadi Camp on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

A woman from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania is seen inside her families tent in the Loudeyatt Nemadi Camp on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

A man gestures to his family at the Touijinit Camp along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

A man gestures to his family at the Touijinit Camp along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

Cheih, from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania is seen with a camel in desert between Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

Cheih, from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania is seen with a camel in desert between Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

A family from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania is seen at outside their families tent in the Loudeyatt Nemadi Camp on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

A family from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania is seen at outside their families tent in the Loudeyatt Nemadi Camp on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

A man is seen at one of the few water wells along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

A man is seen at one of the few water wells along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

Ahmed(20), from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania, is seen leading a camel along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
Ahmed(20), from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania, pulls water out of one of the few water wells along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
Young men from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania are seen in the Loudeyatt Nemadi Camp on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
A woman from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania is seen inside her families tent in the Loudeyatt Nemadi Camp on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
A man gestures to his family at the Touijinit Camp along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
Cheih, from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania is seen with a camel in desert between Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
A family from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania is seen at outside their families tent in the Loudeyatt Nemadi Camp on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
A man is seen at one of the few water wells along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
Ahmed(20), from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania, is seen leading a camel along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
Ahmed(20), from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania, is seen leading a camel along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
Ahmed(20), from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania, pulls water out of one of the few water wells along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
Ahmed(20), from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania, pulls water out of one of the few water wells along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
Young men from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania are seen in the Loudeyatt Nemadi Camp on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
Young men from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania are seen in the Loudeyatt Nemadi Camp on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
A woman from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania is seen inside her families tent in the Loudeyatt Nemadi Camp on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
A woman from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania is seen inside her families tent in the Loudeyatt Nemadi Camp on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
A man gestures to his family at the Touijinit Camp along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
A man gestures to his family at the Touijinit Camp along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
Cheih, from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania is seen with a camel in desert between Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
Cheih, from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania is seen with a camel in desert between Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
A family from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania is seen at outside their families tent in the Loudeyatt Nemadi Camp on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
A family from the small Nemadi(hunters) tribe in Eastern Mauritania is seen at outside their families tent in the Loudeyatt Nemadi Camp on January 23, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
A man is seen at one of the few water wells along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP
A man is seen at one of the few water wells along the caravan route from Tichitt to Aratane in Mauritania on January 25, 2020. In the arid West African country of Mauritania, the way of life of the traditional group of hunters known as the Nemadi is slowly disappearing. JOHN WESSELS / AFP

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