Gül Deniz Salalı

Mbendjele children learn the forest through play.

Here are snapshots from the life of the cutest baby I’ve ever seen in my life. You will be surprised to see all the things Eteni does (and is allowed to do!) as a toddler. There isn’t much teaching in hunter-gatherers. Toddlers learn by observing and mimicking adults and older siblings. When I first saw Eteni, she wasn’t walking yet. A month later, when I found her in another camp she wasn’t only walking, but playing with knives and machetes. If you’re interested in differenc