Diseased healing environments. Climate change, food, and health in a Maasai community of Tanzania

This article delves into the relationship between food practices, climate change, and humans and non-humans’ health. It focuses on the Maasai healing retreat known as orpul. One of the central characteristics of this practice is the exclusive consumption of meat, which is treated as a food-medicine. For a Maasai community living in northern Tanzania, however, to adhere to this practice has become increasingly difficult. This article highlights challenges this community faces due to erratic rainfalls and loss of livestock. It explains the increasing importance of agriculture for livelihoods, despite the formidable challenges it presents in the region and how all of this has led to a decline in orpul participation. It argues that to restore environmental and human health, addressing social inequalities is crucial.