The Mani, also known as the Maniq or Sakai, are an ethnic minority group in southern Thailand, inhabiting the Bathat mountain area in Trang, Phatthalung, Satun, Songkhla, Yala, and Narathiwat provinces. They are the first ethnic group from Africa to migrate to Asia, from South India to Southeast Asia. The Mani are indigenous mobile hunter-gatherers who have lived in isolated forest areas at the foot of the Bathat mountains for centuries. Their communities spread across the forest, comprising around 25–35 presumably related people. They live in makeshift camps built out of wood, called ‘Ha Ya,’ with women and young children usually spending most of their time in these camps while the men are occupied with daily hunting and gathering activities. This article in the 14th volume of Genome Biology and Evolution unveils the genetic history of the Maniq people in great detail.