Senegal’s Centuries-Old Rain Hunt Adapts to Climate Change

In Ndiaye Ndiaye, a district in western Senegal, several hundred Serer men participated in the 723rd annual Miss de Diobaye hunt on Monday, a tradition intended to beckon the rainy season and ensure a bountiful harvest. The centuries-old ritual involves a frenzied parade of hunters displaying captured animals, jackals, lizards, monkeys, and birds, while firing guns and chanting.

The practice originated during a severe drought when a seer predicted rain would fall upon the killing of a specific animal. While the hunt once took place in May when rains were predictable, climate change and deforestation have altered both the landscape and the timing of the event.

Hunters now use motorbikes instead of walking, and the forest they once traversed has diminished. Despite these changes, organizers believe the Miss de Diobaye remains vital, not only for its cultural significance but also for fostering a connection to the land and aiding climate adaptation. The day after the hunt, western Senegal received its first major rainfall of the season.