Info For You Lot Baka (Pygmy) People: The Renowned Pygmy People Of Cameroon, Gabon As Well As Eastward Africa Known For Their Encyclopedic Cognition On Medicinal Plants As Well As Portions
“If all the animals were hunted inwards the forest, to
the really in conclusion one, together with then it would live the Bantus’
fault. They cannot come upward together with blame the Baka.
For the Baka know really good that i only hunt
for one’s ain consumption, i does non kill a
female creature that is pregnant, i hunts only
what i needs, together with that is non really much. But
the Bantu are the ones sending the Baka into the
forest to hunt, together with to overhunt, to together with then sell this
meat for goodness coin (of which the Baka acquire a
fraction, if anything at all).”
- Baka representative, anonymous
Baka people (pygmy) trip the low-cal fantastic toe inwards the Ngato wood area. Cameroon. Courtesy Middle Africa
The Baka, known inwards the Congo equally Bayaka (Bebayaka, Bebayaga, Bibaya), are sedentary ethnic grouping inhabiting the southeastern rainforests of Cameroon, northern Republic of Congo, northern Gabon, together with southwestern Central African Republic. They have got been historically called pygmies (the term is no longer considered respectful).
Baka people (pygmies) inwards Moloundou, Cameroun.
Environment
The Baka is the only grouping culturally adapted to the Southeast wood of Cameroon. They are rightly referred to equally the "people of the forest". Only 50 years ago, this territory was mainly virgin wood with countless elephants, god equally together with other endangered species.
Baka woman. The Baka or Bayaka pygmies alive about the Dzanga Sangha Reserve, Congo DR. Middle Africa
Few others, beside these pygmies, knew together with traveled the deep forest. The Baka are so much at dwelling solid inwards the wood that they were non long agone considered mere animals past times many Bantu groups. They were (and soundless are) thought to transform themselves into various animals that could kill others. The Baka have got medicine and
special ceremonies to obtain this powerfulness to transform themselves
Baka hut (mongulu)
. They are extremely agile inwards the wood together with tin walk long distances really rapidly without making whatsoever noise. Their incredible skills together with endurance inwards the wood brand them successful hunters. They know every flora together with recognize every creature rail no affair how small, fifty-fifty turtles. Using traps, dogs, pike together with crossbow (although disappearing) they hunt nearly all animals.
Baka people (pygmy)
When someone is sick, they brand medicine from roots, leaves, plants, barks together with trees which successfully cure many sicknesses. They also utilization plants to brand their poisonous substance arrows, which gives Little endangerment for the animals to survive. Their cognition together with adaptation to the wood surpasses the villagers who hire the Baka to hunt for them.
Baka nomadic pygmies of Cameroon
Dhellemmes, a Catholic priest who lived amid the Baka for many years noted that, "The intimacy this people has with the wood is so deep together with so sacred that at times, it seems wonderful together with magic. " --
The Baka alive inwards little hunting groups together with hunt inwards areas of the wood assigned to each group. These lands are defined past times natural borders such equally hills together with rivers. H5N1 hunting grouping tin split into smaller units. Their grouping is complex equally it includes people from many topographic point unit of measurement groups. Each core grouping comprises siblings together with cousins with the people classified into 4 basic historic menses groups: the children, the immature men together with women, the adults
who hunt together with gather, together with the elders. Each category has its ain sphere of potency together with responsibility, together with each one's contribution to the economic scheme of the social club depends on his or her historic menses together with sex.
The livelihood of each grouping depends on hunting together with gathering. The wood provides an abundance of animals, fish, honey, mushrooms, fruits, together with nuts. Honey is particularly valued past times the Baka. They often reserve the best honeycomb for the elders. When they have got too much food, they either sell it to the Bantu, fume it to preserve it, or give it to other groups equally as. When an elephant is killed, everyone inwards the surrounding expanse comes to acquire some mat. Most often, the men are involved inwards hunting together with the women inwards gathering. In grooming for a hunt of either an elephant, gorilla together with sometimes a wild pig, the rite ngangà (divining where the animals are past times reading inwards the fire) together with the yéli (the cahg to the ads) play a crucial role. For the Baka, the wood is living together with communicates with them. Instead of domineering nature, the Baka's goal is to alive in
harmony with it.
Beautiful Baka people
Mythology
Komba is believed to live the Sky God who created Baka, the "people of the forest." In the kickoff Jengi belonged to Komba, who kept him inwards a box because he was so dangerous. One day, when Komba was off collecting, a human came together with persuaded Komba's son, who had been left with strict instructions non to opened upward the box, to allow Jengi out so that he could consider him dance.
Komba, away inwards the forest, heard the audio of the trip the low-cal fantastic toe together with returned to consider Jengi flee, whereupon he was really angry, because Jengi was so dangerous. So, since human had brought this on himself, Komba said, 'Alright, yous tin have got him,' together with he left Jengi with men together with went away.
That was the fourth dimension when Komba together with human separated. Komba has hidden himself together with no i sees him, but Jengi is right away everywhere inwards the forest. Jengi thus has much closer contact with men than Komba, together with it is Jengi they telephone telephone upon inwards fourth dimension of need.
Baka people of South Eastern Cameroon.
Language
The Baka people speak Baka. Baka (also called Be-bayaga, Be-bayaka, together with Bibaya de L’est) is a dialect cluster of Ubangian languages spoken past times the Baka Pygmies of Republic of Cameroon together with Gabon. The people are ethnically unopen to the Aka, the 2 together called the Mbenga (Bambenga), but the languages are non related apart from some vocabulary dealing with the wood economy, which suggests the Aka may have got shifted to Bantu from a linguistic communication similar Baka virtually 1500 CE.
Baka pygmy man child boy Congo rainforest
Some 30% of Baka vocabulary is non Ubangian. Much of this concerns a specialized wood economy, such equally words for edible plants, medicinal plants, together with dearest collecting, together with has been posited equally the remnant of an ancestral Pygmy linguistic communication which has otherwise vanished. However, apart from some words shared with the Aka, in that location is no evidence for a wider linguistic affiliation with whatsoever of the other Pygmy peoples.
It is unclear if 3 modest varieties are mutually intelligible with Baka proper. They are Gundi (Ngundi), Ganzi, together with Massa (Limassa). Most Massa have got shifted to Gundi, which is spoken past times 9,000 people.
History
Today betwixt 150,000 together with 200,000 Pygmies alive inwards the tropical pelting wood regions of Africa.: This is hard to verify because of their semi-nomadic Lifestyle. They are divided into many groups who part nifty similarities inwards civilisation but are various inwards language. However, they part many similar words to line " forest" activities. As a result, some linguists believe that at i fourth dimension all Pygmy groups formed i linguistic
grouping called Baakaa, together with that, throughout history, their move together with co-existence with others forced them to adopt different languages.: However, this remains only a theory.
All Pygmies alive inwards at to the lowest degree 7 African countries. The Aka (also known equally Bayaka, Biaka or Babinga) are situated inwards the Northeast of Congo equally good equally Southwest of Central African Republic. The Bongo Live inwards East Gabonese Republic together with Congo, patch the Mbuti, with its 3 sub-groups, the Efe, the Aka together with the Sua, dwell inwards the Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). The BaTwa Pygmies shape 3 sub-groups inwards Zaire with i roofing parts of Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Republic of Uganda together with the Republic of Congo.
We uncovering 3 additional groups living inwards Cameroon. The Bagieli (aiso known equally Lolodorf Pygmies), who alive close the coast with a population of virtually 2,200. The Tikar who alive amid the Tikar people inwards the Northwest province with a population of only 241. Finaly nosotros have got the Baka, whose history is gonna live recounted. Both the Bagieli together with the Tikar groups were originally Living with the Baka inwards the Southeast region. They migrated away from the Baka during the foremost one-half of the 18th century.
It is quite possible that other groups of Pygmies, such equally the Béné, Beko, Bakwe, Holo, Beka together with others, Live inwards the countries mentioned to a higher topographic point equally good equally other surrounding countries. Because they are non good documented together with because some of these names may genuinely refer to groups already mentioned, they are non listed here.
Of all the Pygmies, the Mbuti together with the Aka are past times far the most studied groups. However, equally mentioned above, a important amount of inquiry has already been done amid the Baka equally in that location is high involvement amid many religious, social, together with authorities organizations equally good equally linguistic together with anthropological researchers for working amid the Baka.
Albino Baka woman
The Baka population is found primarily inwards the Southeast part of Republic of Cameroon together with extends across the borders of Gabon, Congo together with Central Afiican Republic. The people called themselves baka or B`aka. Although the neighboring Bantu groups refer to them equally "Pygmies," they rarely utilization this term to refer to themselves . The word "Pygmy" came virtually 2,450 years agone inwards the fourth dimension of Herodotus, a Greek historian together with traveler who saw these brusk people and way "tall equally a forearm." Fortunately, few Baka know the
important of this word
Baka people
Economy
The Baka economic scheme is based on hunting, fishing, creature husbandry, pisciculture together with apiculture. The Baka, existence traditionally nomadic hunter-gatherers, are soundless relatively novel to agriculture, with most communities soundless lacking sufficient knowledge, skills together with materials to grow all their ain food.
Baka human preparing food
Yet most of the communities who have got settled along roadsides have got learned to cultivate the most mutual crops locally grown inwards the region, including plantain, cassava, maize, peanuts together with local varieties of root vegetables (similar to potatoes together with sweetness potatoes). Nevertheless, regardless of what “stage” of agricultural evolution they were found to live at, all the Baka communities visited expressed their needs for assistance in: a) skills (technical assistance on how to increment agricultural productivity); b) tools (spades, hoes, machetes, etc) and; c) seeds (for expanding quantity together with variety). Some Baka communities do ain cocoa plantations but they rent these out to the Bantu, who are meliorate equipped together with skilled to annually process the plantations with pesticides. The Baka has shifted to organic cocoa production together with that should live strongly encouraged together with supported.
Hunting is soundless practised past times the Baka, albeit less than earlier equally in that location is much less game inwards the wood today
than in that location was 50 or to a greater extent than years agone (due to multiple pressures, including population growth together with increased
access to forests past times outsiders, utilization of modern firearms, illegal merchandise inwards species, wood degradation, etc). Nevertheless, fifty-fifty for the settled communities, hunting remains, to this day, an of import role of Baka livelihood together with tradition, together with various rites of passage inwards Baka civilisation are hunting-related.
According to WWF together with PERAD (two environmental NGOs working with the Baka inwards south-east Cameroon), the occupation of over-hunting is non due to the Baka but rather a lawsuit of exterior intruders, including neighbouring Bantu populations, who often give shotguns to the Baka together with monastic enjoin them to go together with hunt for the Bantu. The Baka stressed this betoken further: inwards i community, when asked virtually how sustainable their wood activities were, a Baka representative responded equally follows:
“If all the animals were hunted inwards the forest, to
the really in conclusion one, together with then it would live the Bantus’
fault. They cannot come upward together with blame the Baka.
For the Baka know really good that i only hunt
for one’s ain consumption, i does non kill a
woman individual creature that is pregnant, i hunts only
what i needs, together with that is non really much. But
the Bantu are the ones sending the Baka into the
wood to hunt, together with to overhunt, to together with then sell this
meat for goodness coin (of which the Baka acquire a
fraction, if anything at all).”
- Baka representative, anonymous
Socio-political Structure
The Baka traditionally alive inwards autonomous clans (or kanda) of virtually twenty people, each consisting of virtually five
or vi households. Dhellemmes claims in that location are unopen to xxx clans amid the Baka, together with Dodd claims virtually 25." When a topographic point unit of measurement arrives from a long rest either inwards the wood or from some other camp, the human builds a solid amid his ain clan inwards the village.
All the members of the clan consider i some other equally relatives, fifty-fifty those to whom they are non closely related. Each topographic point unit of measurement unit lives amid the other members of the same clan. There are vi clans represented inwards Ndjibot: the yè-ng6to (a form of vine); the yè-silo (a form of vine); the yè-likimbà (a form of mushroom that grows independently); the yè-mbodo (refers to the yambo , a drug leafage which they smoke); the yè-njhbi (refers to the kusa,' vine which leaves a grade on yous when yous touching on it); together with finally, represented past times only i family, the yè-yànji (which refers to the smoking leaves used to guard against the bees when getting honey).
Each clan has a main who is responsible for the protection of his people together with for the decision-making that concerns the entirety of the group. Baka social club is neither authoritarian nor repressive together with it is thus an egalitarian society. There is no penal code exactly equally in that location is no private property, for everyone lives inwards community together with the wood does non belong to anyone inwards particular (to the Baka it was given past times their god “Komba”)
Baka tribe elder
The Baka also have got social norms that give rising to a shape of collective intelligence, a “group consciousness”. An analysis of the administrative construction of the Baka shows how the traditional community fundamentally works, with a main who is surrounded past times groups of advisors together with collaborators. The main “nkumou” plays a key role inwards Baka society, together with to go a main is a rite together with ritual that far exceeds the “tests” together with requirements of our modern social club (see RASED, 2006 for a detailed description). The ‘boklaks’ are the wise sages of the clan who assist the main inwards assessing together with maintaining tradition together with inwards passing on knowledge, wisdom together with tradition from generation to generation.
Other vital groups of the Baka community include: the “belombe”, specialist together with expert hunters; the “bigambi” or topographic point unit of measurement representatives (“family”’ existence a to a greater extent than extensive concept than inwards our modern society); the craftsmen together with women who create weapons for hunting, tools for line-fishing together with harvesting, equally good equally the weavers who weave clothes, nets together with baskets; together with the “nganga”, or specialists inwards traditional medicine.
To recall that the Baka have got no cognition of social organisation is thus a severe misconception (as was
the instance with several of the authorities authorities interviewed). To what extent the traditional shape of social
organisation tin live translated to jibe “Western” models of social organisation is an interesting question, together with i that mightiness live worth exploring inwards to a greater extent than depth.
Baka adult woman carrying charge on her back
Authority inwards the hunting grouping may depend on historic menses but fifty-fifty to a greater extent than so on skills. Anyone tin have got "authority" inwards a land he or she has mastered, but no i cm claim to live the leader of the group. The best hunter is usually to a greater extent than respected, but the people volition oppose him or anyone else who tries to accumulate powerfulness or manipulate the group. One cm live rejected past times the grouping if he tries to impose his way.
The Baka volition say that he acts similar the villagers (the Bantu) who have got no abide by for the forest. Decisions supported past times everyone are pleasing to the forest. The grouping volition endeavor to uncovering the forest's volition past times reading together with interpreting natural signs such equally the winds together with storms. Only a unanimous determination tin live the volition of the forest. The prolonged noises of a dispute are offensive to the forest. For this reason, they often utilization jokes together with ridicules to communicate or settle their disagreements.
In improver to kinship divisions, the Baka have got 8 categories of people, classified according to historic menses together with status. Each category is associated with a social role together with economical activity. These are:
( I ) dindo : Small baby.
(2) yande : Children upward to virtually 10 years old. They play about the army camp but also assist with the work. The girls go line-fishing together with fetch water, patch the boys larn basic skills together with are circumcised.
(3) sia na wose : Young girls of 12 together with thirteen twelvemonth old. They larn adult responsibilities such equally caring for children, edifice mongulu , cooking, together with gathering food. They may start having sexual relationships, together with when they get married (usually about 14), they volition most probable remain matrilocal for the foremost few months.
(4) wanjo : Young males of 12 together with thirteen years old. They right away laid about to kill their foremost animals, but they have got to borrow weapons equally they do non ain their personal spears or machetes. After his foremost "big" kill (usually an antelope), neither his manlike individual parent nor his woman parent nor whatsoever of the women inwards the army camp volition swallow the meat. The hunter never eats the meat of an creature he kills himself. Their abstinence volition assist the wanjo go a goodness hunter together with have got lots of luck inwards finding animals. Later on the woman parent may start eating his meat, but it volition take longer earlier his manlike individual parent does. It is at this historic menses that the boys go through the Jengi initiation ceremony which admits them to the world of the wood people.
(5) mbotàki : H5N1 human inwards his prime, a hunter. After a youth has proven himself equally a hunter together with the women have got started to swallow his meat, he must proceed to kill lots of animals earlier his woman parent is allowed to swallow it. After a divulge of kills, the manlike individual parent makes a subway scheme remedy from leaves inwards the wood together with cooks a portion of meat inwards the mixture. Having eaten this, the manlike individual parent is together with then gratis to swallow his son's meat . Thereafter the hunter inwards the wood ever carries his ain pike together with other hunting equipment . The hunter never eats his ain meat, but must give it all away. If he kills an elephant neither he nor his manlike individual parent or woman parent may swallow of it .
(6) wose: H5N1 married woman, usually with children. She is an expert gatherer, fisher, together with mongulu builder. She works inwards plantations together with plays a major role inwards providing together with preparing nutrient for the men.
(7) kobo: H5N1 middle-aged human or woman. They may live considered elders, but they soundless have got roles equally hunters or gatherers. However, their trips into the wood are less frequent.
(8) gbekoà : An old human or woman. These people have got retired from hunting together with gathering together with rest inwards the hamlet camps twelvemonth round. They facial expression after children together with are kept past times the balance of the camp. They proceed to participate inwards army camp discussions together with negotiations.
Polygamy is rare. Rarely do 2 wives alive with their hubby at the same the. H5N1 married adult woman usually stays with relatives inwards Ndjibot or inwards some other army camp patch the other lives with the husband. Although the chiefs want to have got many wives is exceptional, it is good accepted past times everyone inwards the village. Many evidence that a chief`s
polygamous lifestyles has brought them many problems, yet no i judges them or considers them a bad person. "It is within their rights to have got many wives," the Baka Say. Although the Baka have got been known for their monogamy, right away with the introduction of plantations, some of them are attracted to the thought of having to a greater extent than than i married adult woman inwards monastic enjoin to create to a greater extent than crops.
Marriage
There is no union ceremony. When 2 people love each other, they prepare for marriage. The human gives gifts to his mother-in-law, and, if they alive inwards the village, he builds a mud solid for him together with his hereafter wife. If they alive inwards a wood camp, the adult woman builds a mongulu . When the fourth dimension has come upward to live united, the man, during the evening, goes to the girl's parents' solid to verbalize with her. After spending a brusk fourth dimension there, he tells her that she must come upward with him. They both go to their novel dwelling solid where they pass the night. The side past times side day, they are considered married together with volition proceed to alive together. It is non until the duet has children volition they
live considered a permanent couple. Until together with then the union is inwards a trial period. H5N1 divulge of marriages do non in conclusion beyond this period.
Actually, she is expected to remain faithful to her novel hubby together with to brand her union work, but is free
to alive inwards both her parents' dwelling solid together with her husband's. If a adult woman does non go pregnant after some time, she may go to her kàà-lé (father's sister), who volition give of her ain saliva mixed with ngele, inwards substitution for a little M. The barren adult woman volition together with then apply the ngele to her belly inwards monastic enjoin to go fertile. In addition, the hubby together with married adult woman may wearable strings carefully made out of sure wood plants about their waist. These together with other traditional medicines tin assist the duet to comport children.
Like all other Pygmy groups, the Baka are patrilocal. However, they pass an initial menses of uxorilocality during the fïrst few years of marriage. The scheme is quite flexible, though, equally some males prefer to alive with their in-laws together with rest inwards t heir camp. Normally, their rest with their in-laws volition vary from vi months to vi years, although the 2 extremes are rare. Not only volition the hubby non pronounce the names of his brothers-in- law, but neither volition he pronounce the names of his sisters-in-law, his wife's parents equally good equally grand-parents. The hubby can, however, utilization the names of the children. H5N1 topographic point unit of measurement may attempt to maintain their son-in-law inwards their army camp indefinitely.
Although they rarely succeed, some people from Ndjibot who have got gone elsewhere to many have got non come upward back, fifty-fifty after 12 years. When the gili love a sure son-in-law, they may brand some medicine with a special wood called ngbi together with rub it or pound it onto the topographic point where he oftentimes sits. This volition assure that he volition non leave of absence the army camp to go dorsum to his ain family.
The ngili na wose exercises much powerfulness over her ko-là a Ie . If he does non perform equally expected, she tin easily curse him merely past times speaking words against him. If he does non give plenty gifts, she may threaten him past times maxim that her miss must render home. This happens frequently, together with when it does, the hubby may convey dorsum his married adult woman dwelling solid only after he has given gifts to his mother-in-law.
However, the human relationship with one's gili demand non live negative. The mother in law has non only the powerfulness to demand, but also to help, to bless together with to give goodness luck. The mixture of her saliva with the ngele volition assure the kodà a lè goodness luck inwards hunting. The goal of every hubby is to maintain peace with his gili, together with of course of instruction it tin live achieved when all parties are reasonable. The Baka have got a potent sense of justice. [f one's gi-lé na
wose makes unrealistic demands, the ko-là a lè may speak up, involving the elders inwards the camp. If the immature human is right, they volition inquire the woman parent to ease upward on him.
Today in that location are pressures to maintain the Baka from taking wives far away, leaving the hamlet for whatsoever extended menses of time. Now that many Baka have got their ain fields, it is sometimes hard for them to leave of absence their fields inwards monastic enjoin to alive elsewhere. This limitation does non apply to all. Many immature men, who do non yet have got their ain plantations, are gratis to travel. In addition, men who have got a wife, sis or woman parent who tin take aid of their fields, are gratis to travel. This is sometime the instance when a married human seeks a 2nd married adult woman from some other camp.
There are also pressures from the neighboring Bantu that maintain the Baka from marrying far away. The Bantu do non favor the semi-nomadic lifestyle of the Baka, including their stays at their gili's camps, because they often rely on Baka labor to cultivate their fields. The Bantu who has trained a Baka to piece of work for him together with has given him gifts, volition oppose his project design to move or displace elsewhere. However, the Baka's fieedom and their obligations toward their gili seem, so far, stronger than the Bantu's efforts.
Baka people
Divorce
Divorce for the Baka is uncomplicated together with easily obtained, equally long equally the 2 parties concur on the separation. If a married adult woman desires to divorce her husband, she may leave of absence him together with go dorsum to her parents. If the hubby wants her back, he must address his gili equally good equally his (ex) wife. This procedure often takes many months, during which the hubby lives with the in-laws. The gili must live satisfied earlier they allow the miss go dorsum to her husband's village.
On the other hand, if the hubby wants to divorce his wife, he volition inquire her to leave. If she leaves, they are considered divorced. If she does non consent, they volition usually rest together together with piece of work out their problems. The elders often acquire involved together with play an of import role inwards the settlement of marital disputes. They assist the younger couples past times giving them advice together with solutions
Religious Belief
Baka people believe that Komba is the God who created the "people of the forest" together with everything else. The Baka know niggling virtually Komba, but they believe that he is goodness because he gave them the forest. He non only cares for the Baka, but also for ail the animals of the forest. Jengi, also called Djengi or Ejengi, the main spirit of the forest, is to a greater extent than involved inwards the daily Life of the Baka equally he brings blessing, healing, protection together with helps uncovering animals.
Pygmies from Cameroon's Baka tribe perform for the Pope inwards the Cameroonian capital, Yaounde, earlier his divergence for Angola.
In the Iücàn) (chantfables), Komba is described equally an old man, total of wisdom, yet a nifty hunter. He lived a long fourth dimension agone with men, but became annoyed past times the dissonance they made, their dances, together with their constant insults. It is together with then that he decided to alter some of them into animals. These were the foremost animals created. After that he left for the sky together with no human or beast has ever seen him since. However, he soundless loves the people together with provides for them. The wood is living together with inwards a sense it is an extension of Komba . One Baka said that the wood is similar a manlike individual parent together with a woman parent who carefully facial expression &er their children. When the hunt is bad or someone is sick, it may live because the wood is sleeping. Singing together with dancing assist to wake it upward together with brand it facial expression favorably on the people.
Baka people (pygmy) of Cameroun
The likàn) tell us that inwards the kickoff of time, human lived with Komba together with bis topographic point unit of measurement . Life was slow then, equally Komba shared ail his possessions with the people. These stories also tell us that fifty-fifty today Komba is really interested inwards all details of their lives, including their success inwards hunting together with their health. Dodd notes that, "Kumba is providential together with lives 'somewhere inwards the sky; he volition 'keep a Baka well' who follows the basic social rules but he is non direct punitive nor does he offering or hope Me after death. There is no formal worship of Kumba nor are in that location whatsoever ceremonies of praise. "
Baka people
The Baka believe that all men are composed of flesh together with blood, a breath, a shadow, an paradigm together with a spirit. When a human dies, his body, breath together with shadow leave. His spirit, flee from the body, enjoys much powerfulness over man. He nonetheless Lives a similar life but remains invisible.
Baka people performing Healing
Through rites, invocations, symbols together with rituals, the Baka attempt to influence the forest. As they do this, they may inquire either Komba, the spirits, or the wood to bless them. Their singing together with dancing play a crucial role inwards their rituals together with inwards their daily life activities. Through singing, the women tin delight the wood together with fifty-fifty telephone telephone inwards the animals inwards grooming for a hunt. Not a solar daytime goes past times that the women are not singing at i fourth dimension or another.
Ethnomusicologist Simha Arom describes the beauty together with complexity of the Aka music, which is much similar to the Baka music, saying, ". . .as l was listening to them, there, at the border of the deep equatorial forest, 1 realized that 1 was witnessing some of the most elaborately complex music, polyphonically, contraputaily together with rhythmically, of all the non-written music inwards Africa or elsewhere."" Although the Baka do non have got the word
"music" inwards their language, their singing together with musical instruments' : are at the really pump of heir culture.
Jengi is the main "me" (spirit) together with has powerfulness over all the me (Baka ancestors) inwards the forest. He is considered goodness equally he looks after the welfare of the Baka. Many of his children (those initiated) are inwards danger, they may telephone telephone his call together with he volition deliver them. If an injustice is done, a Baka tin also telephone telephone on Jengi equally good equally whatsoever other "me," to punish or fifty-fifty kill a criminal. However, none of the spirits would ever have got to harm an innocent person.' In every Baka army camp in that location is a human who plays the role of Jengi, but he may never stand upward for Jengi inwards his ain camp.
Spirits (Me)
The Baka people believe that the spirits are existent people. At expiry each i becomes a spirit. Yes, spirits are humans! It is the spirits of those who have got already died. And why not? Othewise, where would they come upward from? We have got spirits correct hither who alive close the people. They piece of work for those who are non yet dead. One day, we, who are soundless amid the living, volition brand them a costume with leaves, together with they volition come upward dancing. Just similar existent people! They trip the low-cal fantastic toe inwards the yard, together with nosotros offering them food, together with and then they leave. (POLI, Chap. 12, p. 4).
The me (spirit) tin also do evil amid the people past times bringing sickness on them. When this happens, the elders brand medicine inwards an endeavor to contrary the harm done together with to chase away those evil spirits.
There are at to the lowest degree ix different kinds of mg active inwards the lives of the Baka people. Most of them are good known, fifty-fifty past times the immature people. These are the mokondi , 'emboàmboà , 'emboàndà , ngaje, mongelebo , nyabolà , wungà , kose together with joboko . All of these spirits seem to jibe John Mbiti's Definition of the "leaving-dead. "': However, equally Mbiti points out, it is non ever slow to categorize spirits.
The spirits play an of import role inwards the lives of the Baka. They constantly seek their approving during a hunt or whatsoever other activities together with acquaint nutrient offerings.
1. The mokondi are considered goodness spirits who similar to alive close the people. The elders may inquire them to come upward either when someone is sick or when they consider that the whole hamlet tin utilization strength together with medicine. Because they usually rest for 2 or 3 weeks at a time, the women must build them i or to a greater extent than mongulu close the village. While the women sing something similar to the yéli, the m6kondi trip the low-cal fantastic toe something similar to the likàno , but ever maintain their backs to the people together with the elders are gratis to bring together them inwards the dance. They are covered from caput to toe inwards raffia. Because they clothes together with trip the low-cal fantastic toe somewhat similar Jengi, they are sometime called the sons of Jengi. As they dance, they rub their hidden faces on children together with sick people to give them healing strength. During the many days they are inwards the village, they reveal the traditional medicine the people demand at that time. These spirits also play an of import role inwards hunting. At their wood camp, the
hunters oftentimes called on them to reveal where the animals are. When the hunters have got killed animals with their help, they give them the hearts together with livers inwards return. The hunters throw the raw hearts together with livers cutting inwards little pieces all about them. The "me" (spirit) take grip of together with swallow them.
BAKA LITTLE GIRL
2, The 'emboàmboà (also called mboàmboà ) are buffoon spirits which brand people express joy at funerals. They come upward to every expiry ceremony, where they may perform the 1aa1à trip the low-cal fantastic toe on i or 2 nights. During this comical together with diverting performance, they clothes inwards leaves or palm branches together with speak inwards deep growling voices. This is non to live confused with the 'emboàmboà dance, which is non performed past times 'emboàmboà, but past times the immature adults who, earlier the 'emboàmboà come, express joy together with mimic them. The 'emboàmboa
ever perform on the foremost nighttime of the ceremony at virtually 3 a.m. They may brand it naked from the wood together with steal clothes together with other items from the people's homes inwards the army camp or hamlet which they leave of absence inwards the wood at the destination of the ritual.
3. The 'emboàndà (also called mboàndà ) spirits are similar to the 'emboàmboà but with a different role. They do non come upward during a expiry ceremony and, similar the ngaje, they are called upon to convey healing together with give medicine when someone is sick. They may also come, sometime early on inwards the morning, to prepare the hunters for a hunting trip. They trip the low-cal fantastic toe direct on the hunting weapons the hunters convey earlier them. They volition do so
without ever cutting their feet. This ritual assures that they volition kill many animals on their hunting trip.
4. The ngaje spirits, similar the 'emboàmboà , come upward only to perform the laàlà trip the low-cal fantastic toe during the expiry celebration. Places close the hamlet are selected where people may leave of absence some clothes for them to Wear. If in that location are non plenty clothes, they do non come. Their faces are uncovered, but no i recognizes them, equally they are strangers. They speak similar the 'emboàmboà together with milk shiver hands with the people really hard. However, dissimilar the 'emboàmboà , they are serenity together with do non run ail over the place. If in that location is too much noise
(often made past times the 'emboàmboà ), they volition non come. They alive far away inwards the forest, equally they dislike the dissonance of the villagers.
5. The mongelebo spirits cm only come upward during a expiry ceremony. The mongelebo, with the 'emboamboà together with the ngaje all trip the low-cal fantastic toe at the same time. Like the 'emboàmboà , they steal clothes inwards houses when the people are gone. They only Wear these clothes during their performance. No i tin recognize them equally they are strangers. They usually come upward at virtually 4 a.m. on the foremost nighttime of the ceremony, after the 'emboàmboà , together with may trip the low-cal fantastic toe until dawn. They perform the laàlà, but do it differently than the 'emboàmboà together with ngaje. They never speak, but only whistle.
6. The nyabolà spirits come upward only when an elephant has been killed. They trip the low-cal fantastic toe together with celebrate with the people together with accompany the hunters dorsum to the village. The nyabolà, the mongelebo , equally good equally the wùngà spirits who come upward during the ngàngà ritual, are rarely active together with are non good known past times the younger generation.
7. The in conclusion 2 spirits, the kose, who come upward during the ngàngà ritual, together with the joboko , who come upward during the yéli ritual, are only known past times the elders, equally they are the ones who command these 2 of import rituals. It is hard to tell at this betoken if these rituals are passed on to younger generations with the same intensity equally it was inwards the past.
+ nje "blood; life; strength; unity." The mboni ritual, although non often performed, is an of import aspect of the culture. This alliance is made only betwixt men. Through such alliances, men tin build sure relationships which they tin autumn dorsum on inwards instance of sickness together with tragedy. They do non potable each other's blood equally such. Instead, they dip either plantain or yarn or other nutrient inwards the mixed blood of the 2 people together with share
the food. They cannot swallow meat inwards this ritual equally it already contains blood. When such a covenant has been performed, the 2 people go kin. Therefore, fifty-fifty when involving a Bantu together with a Baka, intermarriage within their families is forbidden together with considered incest.
+ nguso "saliva; blessing. " Saliva tin never live applied past times itself. It is ever used mixed with ngele (Komba's blood) or coal. If a hunter has misfortune together with hears either his wife, his woman parent or his father's sis speak virtually him, he may go to her together with inquire for her blessing. She volition together with then take her saliva, mix it with either ngele or coal, together with apply it on the hunter's forehead. She may also give a prayer, but if she does she may or may non address it to Komba or the spirits. Her words lone have got the powerfulness to bless.
Baka old human lulling his grandchild
+ libanjo-bo "forehead; goodness luck; blessing." The concept of goodness luck is soundless potent amid the Baka, particularly the hunters. There are countless do's together with don'ts related to diets, habits, rituals, sexual activities together with formulas which tin convey goodness or bad luck. However some people, particularly those who labor inwards their plantations 2 or 3 times per week, realize that hard work, non only luck, contributes to a goodness harvest.
The Baka on the Lomié route may never nether whatsoever circumstances take the saliva from a deceased person. The giving of saliva to brand the ngaje is done past times the kàà-lé (father's sister) or equally a in conclusion resort the tita-lé (mother's brother) a few days after the burial of the deceased.
Baka cultural dance
Baka Passage of Rites (Higgens, Kathleen. "Ritual together with Symbol inwards Baka Life History.")
The Baka are inwards a menses of transition from hunting together with gathering to a sedentary together with agricultural way of Me. They are kickoff to alive inwards villages with the main road. In her article, Higgens shows that the Baka soundless have got an of import human relationship with the fores, which provides a ground for their worldview.
Baka pygmy dancing, Cameroon
While the initiation ritual of immature males is the principal way whereby both, Baka men together with women, are brought into an alliance with the forest, the Baka necktie to the wood begins earlier nascence together with continues after death. Consequently, the next descriptions follow the Baka Me trajectory equally it leads upward to together with and then away from the Jengi ceremony (p. 100)
H5N1 Baka, patch soundless inwards his mother's womb, is exposed to the forest's protection. To ensure a rubber delivery together with a good for yous baby, i rubs the breadbasket of the expectant woman parent with a scarlet glue made upward of ngele, a pulverisation made from the mahogany tree. When the infant is born, the ngele is applied to the umbilical cord. This way, the infant begins its foremost days nether the continuing protection of the forest. When a infant is 2 days old, the
manlike individual parent makes protective charms from a special type of wood which the kid volition wearable about his waist together with ankles. The manlike individual parent must also brand a carrying sling for the child, which has protective powers.
In Ndjibot the belly together with the umbilical cord are non rubbed with ngele to protect woman parent together with child. The ngele medicine, which tin usually live found at whatsoever fourth dimension inwards the village, is only used to rub the mother's belly on the solar daytime of delivery when she gives nascence to twins. When the umbilical cord falls off, the woman parent takes it together with plants it with a novel banana tree. It is a symbol that the kid volition grow equally speedily equally the banana tree. Only the grand-father (titi-lé ni mokose ) together with the grand-mother (titi-lé nà wose) volition later swallow the foremost bananas produced. This novel custom has been borrowed from the neighboring Bantu groups during the in conclusion generation or two.
Many other natural resources are used to ensure that the kid grows potent together with healthy. As with the Mbuti child,:" for the foremost 3 years of his life, the Baka kid is rarely topographic point downward together with almost ever remains inwards physical contact with mother, father, or sister. In this way the kid enjoys total security. However, although really young, a kid has equally much autonomy together with personal responsibleness equally do older individuals. H5N1 kid learns
skills, non past times fond education, but through imitation. The learning is his ain responsibility. This is also fourth dimension for the learning of rituals, singing, together with dancing. The kid learns speedily to brand his ain decisions. For example, at virtually the historic menses of eight, he may create upward one's heed whether or non to have got his teeth cutting to a betoken inwards the traditional Baka way.
In pre-adolescence, the children's imitating becomes to a greater extent than serious. The boys build their ain solid together with alive together until they marry. Some flora their ain "practice" plantations together with start killing larger animals. Rituals are important, equally they convey each i closer to together with inwards harmony with the spirits of the forest.
"Girls, when they go immature women, must live fully expert at the ritual shape of singing that provides an accompaniment for the hunting rituals. This special singing, similar to yodeling, is called yéli together with its powerfulness 'weakens the forest' or to a greater extent than specifically, 'weakens the hearts of the animals,' together with this ensures that the men cm kill them" (p. 101).
Baka miss undergoing puberty initiation ritual. Cameroon
When a few immature women betwixt eighteen together with twenty years of historic menses tin live found inwards the camp, an initiation cm take place. In preparation, older women get together leaves together with other necessary ingredients to brand medicine. During their initiation, girls are given a potable of medicinal leaves, water, together with honey. Each is taken to a pathway leading into the wood where the spirit of Jengi , the main spirit of the forest, volition give her a novel powerfulness together with powerfulness to sing. Higgens describes this spiritual experience maxim that, "There, patch she is alone, the spirit
(Literally: 'the wood person') holds a loving cup for her patch she drinks. The spirit teaches her to sing the Song that 'calls' the animals, together with she yodels well" (p. 102)
Jengi is the main spirit of the forest, specific to the Baka people, together with sent to them past times Kornba . While Komba is for the whole world, Jengi is for their territory.
While the girls come upward to adulthood through this ritual, the immature must live brought nether the protection of Jengi through some other ritual. Every 5 to 7 years, Jengi comes to have the immature males, who arrive at from virtually 12 to twenty years old. The initiation takes months of grooming past times the whole camp. Although most of the activities involving the initiation take topographic point inwards the army camp or village, the initiation itself ever takes topographic point inwards the forest. In every camp, "Jengi is 'kept' past times a sure man, who is called 'master', or 'chief,' or 'father' of Jengi. Each army camp also has a 'spokesman,' chosen past times Jengi, who transmits Jengi words to the balance of the camp" (p. 102). Jengi must never live seen or heard past times women. Therefore, the women inwards particular are subject on the spokesman to have Jengi's instructions. In monastic enjoin to shroud himself, Jengi appears
enveloped inwards a two-story raffia roofing that tin live extended or compressed. At total height, it tin arrive at over 3 meters. This roofing is made of fresh raffia together with is woven past times the immature initiated boys.
At the border of the camp, close the forest, a 2 meter broad cover made of raffia is tied betwixt 2 trees. Other screens are ahead leading into the forest, where Jengi lives inwards a leaf-hut without his covering. Before the initiation,
"The eldest sis of each immature human who is to live initiated shaves the caput of her
blood brother inwards elaborate patterns. The candidates are freedom covered inwards fossil oil together with ngele, all
of it accompanied past times the approving with saliva. Ngele inwards this context is said to be
Komba's blood, which volition maintain the candidates' bodies "soft." The candidates, each
carrying a walking stick, together with then disappear behind the screen. Each is accompanied past times a
kinsman or guardian, for otherwise he would live too frightened at the betoken when he is
killed (p. 102).
Meanwhile, the initiated men, hidden behind the raffia screens, clap their hands together with scream together with and then thrust long sticks through the cover inwards the management of the camp:
"Then each guardian emerges with his candidate's stick. Its tip is covered with blood.
This signifies that Jengi has topographic point the initiates to death. How this happens has been
described to me equally follows: Jengi cuts the candidate's throat, throws his torso to the
ground together with then cuts it up--the latter word existence the same term used to refer to the
butchering of animals. Jengi together with then takes out the initiate's Liver together with eats it. It is this
that afterward enables him to recognize i of his ain "children" inwards the forest,
together with he volition come upward to their rescue when they called his call (102-3).
Jengi together with then puts the parts dorsum together together with blows into the initiate's nostrils, so he receives life again. He is right away nether the protection of Jengi who has "saved him. " Meanwhile, the women sing particular songs. The eldest sis or the woman parent of each initiate holds his stick together with with the assist of a leafage keeps the flies from touching the blood.
Should she fail, the initiate would die. Then,
"Old women cry pleadingly, "Treat them gently!" The initiate's paternal aunt spits,
together with inwards nifty fright she shouts loudly inwards the management of the screen, "Be saved, don't Ml
him forever! " She takes medicine she has prepared together with sprinkles it inwards the management of
Jengi, saying, "Don`t live angry; live at peace!" The grouping of women swing their
breasts with their hands, together with they wrinkle their noses, saying, "Let him live saved; let
him live! " They clap their hands together with postage stamp their feet . After this the guardians return
through the cover to take the sticks together with nutrient together with H2O to the newly resurrected
initiates (p. 103).
Finally, the initiates come upward out from behind the screens together with people take off their ain bracelets together with necklaces together with give them to the immature initiates. Then the women sing together with trip the low-cal fantastic toe patch the initiates sit down inwards a row, crouched inwards the fetal position. Many times Jengi comes from behind the cover to dance, together with then exits again. It is a the of joy, festivity together with excitement.
When the ceremonies are over, those who have got exactly been initiated pass the nights inwards a special leaf-hut so that Jengi tin give them medicine to brand their bodies potent together with protect them from sorcerers. The initiates believe that right away that Jengi has killed them together with brought them dorsum to life, he volition do so i time to a greater extent than if'they are killed. This gives them courage to confront danger inwards the forest. Jengi is beneficial only to the men, equally he volition non protect the women together with children. Higgens quotes Robert Dodd who suggests that Jengi has an equalizing role for the Baka sexes, since inwards several ways the adult woman has a dominant topographic point inwards Baka society
Now roles together with expectations are redefined for those immature men together with women. They volition shortly confront total adult responsibilities, equally they displace toward the institution of a family. Men volition go on hunting together with women gathering. The performance of the appropriate rituals is the responsibleness of all adults together with assures success inwards hunting. These rituals include the weakening of the animals past times the women singing yéli, the imparting of approving through ngele together with saliva, together with various forms of divination that reveal where to hunt.
Older people go kobo, which way " elder," "wise man," "senior," or "ancestor." As they retire from hunting together with gathering, they rest inwards the base of operations army camp together with go respected advisors. Their primary role is to settle disputes, sentinel their grandchildren, together with plough over on legends together with rituals.
Death of old historic menses is considered normal. If a younger individual dies, in that location is something wrong. His expiry may live attributed to the breaking of taboos (as inwards the instance of a newborn miss who people said died because her woman parent walked inwards damp places), sorcery, adultery, neglecting his wife, or disturbing the wood (such equally creating undesirable noise).
Baka human pouring herbal medicated H2O on his eyes
Death ceremonies are non only of import for the people, equally they mourn, together with for the spirit of the deceased, so that it may leave of absence peacefully, but also to convey harmony betwixt the wood together with the Baka. As Higgens points out:
"The ceremonies next expiry convey out 2 of the main purposes for Baka
ritual. Throughout Me, together with particularly after the expiry of a topographic point unit of measurement member, rituals and
the application of symbolic substances are vital to "keep a person's torso potent so
that he volition live good on the earth." The other major go for ritual, particularly for
ritual dances, such equally those danced after a death, is to convey joy to the forest, because
if the wood rejoices, animals volition come upward unopen to the Baka, together with the people volition have
meat (p. 105)
Baka human together with his kid
Twins are feared equally they are said to have got special powers. After their birth, both twins are given raw meat (of whatsoever animal) from which the babies suck the blood. This makes the babies to topographic point with an creature together with volition exercise some form of powerfulness over it. That creature volition live attracted to them because of the blood they ate, which way that the twins volition live successful hunters together with volition ever have got plenty to swallow of that animal. For equally long equally the woman parent cooks for the twins, she volition utilization only pando wood" to feed the fie. When the children are large plenty to crawl, the parents volition apply ngele mixed with a pulverisation made of the dorsum of the kulu tree on the children's forehead. The words pronounced past times twins are powerful. If they speak fifty-fifty lightly i time to a greater extent than to someone, this individual volition endure from a headache. Fortunately, twins are rare.
The utilization of charms are quite similar to the practices of Yenga . H5N1 ngba (charm) on a string is topographic point about the cervix of a infant or toddler to supply him or her with strength together with protection. inwards monastic enjoin to topographic point the ngba on a string, i must rut the wood inwards the sack together with and then pierce it either with a slice of metallic or, inwards a to a greater extent than traditional fashion, with a precipitous slice of pipi': (an extremely potent wood). - - Sometimes the ngba is topographic point on a string made of baàlà,-- which volition eventually break. When it does, no i must facial expression for it equally it way that the kid is right away potent together with no longer needs the ngba. Otherwise, i may Wear a ngba until the historic menses of virtually six.
Other protective charms are used; notwithstanding they are non specifically for children. For example, teenagers together with adults tin wearable the ngbi (a string skillfully made with the within of the ngbi bark) about their wrists. Often ngele is applied to the string to add together to its power. This string medicine volition protect against danger together with spirits together with is most often used when traveling. H5N1 criminal volition non succeed inwards killing someone who wears this string.
This practise is used fifty-fifty past times the immature people, although non equally much equally inwards the past times generation.
Because a pregnant adult woman brings bad luck, a different string is attached to the husband's talocrural articulation to assure him goodness luck inwards hunting. He volition Wear it from the kickoff to the destination of the pregnancy, removing it only when the infant is born. H5N1 hubby who does non Wear this string patch his married adult woman is pregnant volition for sure convey disaster on himself together with everyone hunting with him. The same applies whether i hunts with traps, a spear, or a gun. Although only the hubby may Wear this string, other hunters inwards the army camp may seek goodness luck past times asking the expecting woman parent to apply her ngele (mixed with her ain saliva) on them.
Baka people (pygmy)
Parent-Children relationship
The parent-child human relationship is extremely potent amid the Baka. In Ndjibot, equally good equally amid other Pygmies,Ii the kid almost ever remains with his woman parent or manlike individual parent during the foremost 3 years. Children are born 2 to 4 years apart. This way, the parents tin give themselves only to their child. During this time, the kid sleeps with the woman parent until he or she is weaned (at virtually 3 years of age). The parents slumber inwards separate beds, equally the hubby is forbidden to have got intercourse with his wife. This sexual practice taboo volition in conclusion until the kid is weaned, able to walk together with eat, together with knows his way about inwards the camp.
Baka woman parent breastfeeding her child
During this time, the hubby together with married adult woman are non to have got affairs with others. If they do, the kid volition acquire sick together with fifty-fifty die. If the hubby has an affair together with the infant gets sick, he may salve the life of the kid past times washing him or her inwards some medicine. In a little tub, the manlike individual parent volition wring some tukusà (a form of vine) leaves inwards the water, which volition together with then go thick, together with volition bathe the infant with his correct mitt patch his mistress washes with her left hand. Turnbull witnessed the same sexual practice taboo amid the Mbuti Pygmies but points out that it is often a fourth dimension of conflicts because the men seek to have got affairs with other women.
The initiation of the immature girls to the yéli-' (pronounced yéyi on the Lornié road) is different from that described past times Higgens. The women eventually larn to sing the yéli but without the intervention of Jengi . Instead, they are taught past times the elderberry women over a long menses of fourth dimension equally the yéli is hard to learn. Secret medicine known only past times elderberry women plays a vital role inwards the acquisition together with the performance of the ritual.
The immature women do play an of import role inwards the singing at d sorts of rituals. They bring together the adult women inwards dancing together with singing whenever they are ready.
The community itself exerts some force per unit of measurement area on the immature women to go singers, able to send on the traditions. The parents together with the elders, particularly the best dancers, play an of import role inwards teaching the children to sing together with dance. However, the success of a kid depends primarily on his or her ain efforts together with natural abilities. Often, after the even repast when plenty children are together together with it is non raining, they trip the low-cal fantastic toe together with sing for at to the lowest degree an hour.
The children, primarily girls, brand every sweat to perform well, although they do it with laughter together with amusement. The parents may apply some medicine (made with a leafage or a bark mixed with oil) to the skin, inwards incisions made on the lower back. This volition assist the kid later on to perform dances such equally the likàno which require that i moves his lower dorsum really quickly. Other medicines are used to assist the dancers together with singers perform good during rituals.-' However, in that location is no magic or formula that tin supersede the children's duty to larn past times mistaken together with practice.
Baka adult woman together with child
Customs together with practices
Physical appearance is really of import for the Baka. Therefore, the children betwixt the historic menses of 10 together with 20, manlike individual together with female, must create upward one's heed whether or non they volition have got their teeth cutting into a precipitous point. For the Baka, this sharpening of teeth is i of their most attractive characteristics.
Baka (people) pygmies with pointed teeth. Cameroon. Middle Africa
This is an of import determination together with the bulk of the youths take to have got the functioning done. Only manlike individual elders tin perform the functioning together with it rarely takes to a greater extent than than i day. The practise requires a large amount of courage equally it is extremely painful. With the assist of a knife together with a slice of metallic used equally a hammer, the elderberry human cuts only the Front teeth.
Baka miss girlfriend undergoing ritual to take away her teeth
During the operation, the immature individual keeps a slice of wood across the dorsum teeth to maintain his or her rima oris open. It is totally gratis of accuse together with in that location is no overt force per unit of measurement area from the elders to have got the functioning done. However, traditional stories claim that uncut teeth move inwards the nighttime patch the individual is asleep and
swallow excrement .
In improver to teeth cutting, scars on the forehead together with cheeks are made past times elderberry women for aesthetic reasons. Many women together with a few men take to have got such scars. It also takes a lot of courage equally it is a painful functioning The elderberry adult woman opens the pare with a razor blade together with inserts a selection of sure leaves inwards the opened upward injure to assure that the scars volition ever remain black. The men consider the women with marks far to a greater extent than attractive than those without . Today really few people have got their olfactory organ pierced equally their parents or grand-parents did. However, many women soundless pierce their ears. This is i time to a greater extent than a determination the immature men together with women must make. It is done non only for aesthetic reasons but also for practical ones. On their frequent line-fishing trips during the dry out season, the women insert a medicine inwards their pierced ears or olfactory organ which helps them uncovering fish.
Baka adult woman with a facial medicinal together with beautification tattoo
Jengi Ceremony
The Baka worship a wood spirit known equally Jengi, also called Djengi or Ejengi, whom they perceive equally both a parental figure together with guardian. Each successful hunt is followed past times a trip the low-cal fantastic toe of thanksgiving known equally the Luma, which is accompanied past times drumming together with polyphonic singing. One of the most of import traditional ceremonies is the Jengi ceremony, a long together with subway scheme rite of initiation which celebrates the boy's passage into adulthood.
Baka youths undergoing Jengi ceremony
Performance of Jengi thus creates an substitution network betwixt camps amid older males. When Jengi comes he stays inwards the wood close the village. The people pass many nights singing together with dancing, together with Jengi himself often dances" amid them. Every 2 or 3 nights, depending on the elders, the celebration pauses to give topographic point to i or to a greater extent than nights of rest. During the foremost few days after his arrival, Jengi, with the assist of the elders, puts a medicine pulverisation (made of bark) on the caput of everyone inwards the village. This ritual is also performed past times the elders at the kickoff of every year, however, using a different medicine, which gives the people protection together with strength.
After a few days a squad of hunters, followed past times a squad of porters, go hunting for a divulge of animals, usually including elephant, gorilla, wild boar, together with other little animals such equally the chimpanzee together with antelope. The elephant hunt is the greatest of hunts for the Baka. Although today the Baka only hunt this creature when a rifle is lent to them, it remains i of the most unsafe together with exciting experience for the hunters. Elephant
hunting, however, is speedily disappearing inwards Ndjibot (Baka town) equally no i is willing to hunt with a spear, together with guns large plenty to kill the elephant are hard to find. Jengi does non go with the hunters equally he sometime does inwards the Salapoumbé area. The ngàngà ritual, usually performed earlier an of import hunting trip, takes topographic point the solar daytime earlier the hunters leave.
The ngàngà diviner tells the hunters where to uncovering the animals together with how long the hunt volition last. Depending on which creature they hunt, the hunt may in conclusion from i to vi weeks. The initiation ritual takes topographic point shortly after they return. Sometimes Jengi, the elders, together with the initiates, with their mothers or wives, volition displace into the wood together with perform the ritual away from the village. At other times, it all happens part- inwards the hamlet together with partly inwards the wood nearby, equally described past times Higgens. However, the actual initiation ever takes topographic point inwards the forest.
Once the hunters are back, the mbonio (initiates) rest together inwards a large mongulu built exactly for them, inwards the village. The elders feed them with the nutrient that each one's woman parent or married adult woman has prepared. Jengi also makes frequent visits during the nighttime to give them medicines (which are known only to him) patch they sleep, to ensure that they are inwards goodness health, together with to ensure that in that location are no sorcerers who may kill someone together with then
blame Jengi . At dawn Jengi leaves for the wood with i or 2 elders who volition maintain him companionship close a fire. Jengi ever sleeps inwards the forest, away from the people. The morn earlier the initiation, Jmgi together with the people perform to a greater extent than dances patch the initiates rest inwards their mongulu together with are fed past times their relatives. Then the elders bring down the pilus together with eyebrows of every initiate inwards a specific shape together with cutting their eyelashes. They supersede their pants with a skirt made of raffia, attached inwards betwixt their legs, or with shorts. This is all that they may wear. Then they encompass their entire torso with dark palm fossil oil together with with ngele made with Jengi's saliva. The mbonio are right away getting anxious, equally Jengi volition shortly perform the initiation.
Baka Jengi ceremony
In early on afternoon" each mbonio , guarded past times an initiated man, is led to the foremost kpànga (long logs of virtually 3 meters long on which the initiates sit), facing Jengi's hidden dwelling solid inwards the forest. The raffia screens equally described past times Higgens are many, leading into the forest. The foremost screen, nearly 2 meters broad together with tali, is tied betwixt 2 trees at the border of the camp. As Jengi dances toward his home, the elders tell the mbonio to take the kpànga (there may live 3 or four) together with displace closer to Jengi 's home. Slowly, equally Jengi dances about them, they proceed to brand their way closer together with closer to his home. The initiates, dressed only inwards their raffia skirts or shorts, pour to a greater extent than palm fossil oil together with ngele over their bodies. This the the ngele is made with their mother's saliva. During the ritual, the women sing a divulge of songs. Then equally Jengi dances really close them, they sit down with their heads betwixt their knees. They must non facial expression at Jengi. Now the people are extremely afraid together with may fifty-fifty attempt to run away. Each guardian stays close the immature mbonio, he must protect together with maintain from fleeing because of their fear. Then the guardians inquire the mbonio to unopen their eyes together with speedily take each i inwards their arms together with run into Jengi's house. This is where the miracle of Jigi (as they telephone telephone it), which is carefully kept subway scheme from outsiders, takes place. Somehow Jengi kills the youths together with eats their livers. The women who were singing together with dancing, halt suddenly
Baka Jengi ceremony
Moments later Jengi gives the guardians little sticks of wood with a slice of raw liver on each one. These come upward from the initiates' livers, so in that location is i stick for each initiate. The guardians plough over them on to the mbonio's mothers, who mud topographic point the sticks upright into the ground. Each woman parent is responsible to guard her stick, together with past times moving a leafage on the meat, she keeps the flies from landing on the blood. Failure to do so may lawsuit inwards her boy non healing properly. After a Little while, the guardians get together these sticks together with render them carefully to Jengi , who volition utilization them to heal the initiates. It is of import that the guardians do non drib them. Jengi together with then repairs the bodies together with breathes into the initiates' nostrils to give them Me again. Because of his nifty power, no i feels whatsoever hurting for a divulge of days.
The newly initiated men rest with Jengi for a patch to verbalize with him. They are no longer afraid, equally Jengi tells them that they are right away his friends together with are nether his protection. They swear to never reveal to whatsoever non-initiate the subway scheme of Jengi together with the hidden initiation. When they render to the village, Jengi takes each initiate to his ain home. There he asks i of the parents, "Have 1 harmed your son?" When the individual responds "No," he moves on to the side past times side home. if the ceremony takes topographic point inwards the hamlet the mbonio never demand to slumber inwards the forest. However, if it takes topographic point at a wood camp, they may come upward dorsum only 2 or 3 weeks later.
Before the initiation, the hunters give their meat to the women who prepare it. On the next solar daytime of the ritual, the women serve the repast to Jengi together with everyone inwards the village. In improver to the meat, they prepare plantains together with other products they have got cultivated together with gathered. After they eat, the initiates take a some slice of meat together with claw it to the roofs of their houses. This teaches them self-control together with assures that they volition not
go gluttons.
Later, each initiate is given 2 medicine-coated strings which he volition wearable over each shoulder similar slings. Attached to i of these strings is a horn of an antelope or other little animal. It is cutting virtually 3 centimeters long together with is filled past times Jengi with a healing medicine made of ashes together with oil. When the newly initiated human feels hurting inwards his liver or stomach, caused past times the initiation, he may apply the medicine. The mbonio must
wearable the strings all the time, except when sleeping, until they autumn off on their own. When this happens, it volition hateful that he is completely healed. In improver to these strings, they may wearable modem necklaces together with bracelets bought at a nearby town. H5N1 few days after the initiation (some say the 5th day), the youths go dorsum to Jengi 's solid to have a little stick with leaves attached to it, which volition serve them equally healing medicine. They volition hang them inwards their mongulu for i day, after which they must render them to Jengi, who volition shroud the sticks inwards the wood inwards such a way that the pelting cannot touching on them.
The next solar daytime or some days later, the initiates go through a washing ceremony. They launder inwards H2O which already contains medicine that Jengi has added to it. When they destination washing, Jengi pulls them out of the H2O i past times one, with the assist of a little stick treated with medicine. After this washing ritual, each initiate exchanges his raffia skirt or shorts for a pair of pants belonging to an old initiate. Between rituals together with festivities, many people piece of work inwards their fields together with send on their daily responsibilities. If the people were at a wood camp, they right away render to the village.
Jengi ever appears covered inwards raffia together with although no adult woman tin ever consider him, the men can. To everyone, however, he is non a man, but the spirit of the forest. The identity of Jengi, along with many other aspects of the initiation, is a subway scheme that belong only to the Baka.
The festivities proceed for many to a greater extent than nights, patch Jengi comes to trip the low-cal fantastic toe together with to take aid of the healing youths. When the initiates consider him, they line upward earlier him. Every right away together with then, equally he dances, Jengi pushes together with shakes them violently. This is the in conclusion attempt to consider if t howdy are potent together with healing well. This ritual is repeated during many nights. As he gets ready to leave, he admonishes the parents to aid for the youths together with gives them recipes for healing medicine. Once Jengi is gone, the immature men experience that they belong fifty-fifty to a greater extent than to the wood together with part its deepest secrets
Baka women dancing
Medicine, midwifery and craftsmanship
The Baka, inwards improver to existence expert hunters, fishermen together with NTFP harvesters, are also good known for their
extraordinary skills inwards healing with traditional medicine, including midwifery, together with inwards their craftsmanship. These
skills are also marketable, together with could good supply the livelihood of many members of Baka communities.
Ironically, the main customers of Baka healing together with midwifery treatments are currently the Bantu who, despite often discriminating against the Baka, volition go to the Baka (albeit discreetly) to live cured of a broad range
of different illnesses. The Baka non only possess encyclopaedic cognition on medicinal plants together with potions,
they have got also go known nationally for their powers together with efficacy inwards healing.
In Cameroon, for example, stories propose that some Baka healers have, upon request, gone equally far equally the uppercase Yaoundé to heal patients. Interestingly, the Ministry of Health of Republic of Cameroon lately passed a neb stating that medicinal plants together with traditional medicine are to live accepted equally valid forms of handling exactly equally “modern” healthcare is. There is a national institute inwards Yaoundé, the Synergie Africaine Foundation, researching traditional medicine, which could live a valuable contact for Baka projects looking for collaboration, together with also inwards terms of finding out what form of markets mightiness arise both for medicinal plants
equally good equally for healing, together with how the Baka could meliorate do goodness from these. It is imperative, however, that intellectual belongings rights are ensured for the Baka, together with that sustainability criteria inwards harvesting medicinal products are met. It is also critical that whatsoever possible merchandise is fair, such that the Baka communities are the main beneficiaries, rather than the province or private companies.
The Baka are also good known for their skills inwards midwifery. Baka midwives are becoming increasingly good known for their powerfulness together with success inwards curing sterility, inducing fertility, inwards their powerfulness to both forbid together with terminate pregnancies, or fifty-fifty to exactly postpone or advance childbirth. Baka midwives are often visited
past times neighbouring Bantu women seeking assist inwards hard situations. Here, again, the Baka could larn to negotiate a fair wage for the valuable together with unique skills together with service that they provide.
As for handicrafts, the Baka are fantabulous together with fast weavers, together with are known to live able to create many
baskets inwards exactly i day. When asked whether they handle to sell these, i Baka community informed
us that in that location was ever a demand for baskets (especially when selling past times the roadside) but the challenge
for them was learning to negotiate fair prices. Currently, the Baka are selling their crafts at a really depression cost (the equivalent of i euro for i large carrying handbasket or case). In improver to helping the Baka larn how to negotiate meliorate prices, choice marketing channels for handicrafts could also live explored. The Baka have got the materials, the skills, the fourth dimension together with the interest; the only missing link is a profitable market.
Baka man
"Time Reference Among the Baka."
According to Kathleen Higgens " The Baka refer to themselves inwards fourth dimension equally wà-mbelio (the foremost people). They lived on Earth with Komba (God) together with they line this historic menses inwards their likàno (chantfables) equally s)k)- likàno (season-chantfables), which is the fourth dimension when the foremost legends were existence enacted.
Baka adult woman smiling
Today, when referring to events that took topographic point a long fourth dimension ago, the word mb3li (first state; a long the ago) is used. The Baka word for the is tie, but this tin also refer to "place, tiptop together with dimension." For example, it tin live used to say, "1 have got no topographic point to sit;" "this human is tall;" or "1 volition come upward some other time." However, the phrase "à bo maka tie" is ambiguous together with tin hateful either "at what topographic point or time?"
The Baka recognize 3 main climatic seasons, specifically related to hunting together with gathering. These are S)k)-mà "the rainy season", s)k)-yaka "the dry out season," together with s)k)- lànga "the brusk dry out season." The is also described past times what the flavor produces. For example, S)k)-bàndi (termite season) tin substitute for the term for dry out season. Or again, "ma na 1eka" is the bloom that the bees volition see when it grows after the March rain.
They utilization words to line parts of the solar daytime such equally the early on morning, virtually 7 a-m., 8 a-m., midday, belatedly afternoon together with early on evening. Words for calendar week together with the days of the calendar week are borrowed from the neighboring Bantu. As inwards many languages, the word for calendar month (f3) is the same equally for moon. Although the Baka, similar other hunters together with gatherers, have got niggling involvement inwards the moon's activity, they recognize its cycles.
The Sun (bàko) is extremely of import to the Baka for keeping time. By describing the topographic point of the Sun from early on morn to sunrise, they have got a precise reference to time. Other fourth dimension words are Iàkpe (day), makàlà (today), dukpe (morning or tomorrow), ngili (yesterday), rnbilimbili (early moming), dakalà (evening), fitimà (late evening, at dark). The only word to refer to a vague, distant hereafter is wheel (one day). This is not
surprising for such a present-oriented society.
Baka people
One of import consideration inwards the life of the Baka is the gathering of honey, which is the favorite nutrient of the Baka together with fifty-fifty of Komba himself Consequently, the Baka dissever the solar daytime inwards tems of the bees' activities. There is a word to line the humming of the bees irrespective of fourth dimension (mùli), but it is also mutual to line the humming of the bees past times reference to the fourth dimension it occurs. H5N1 daily schedule may facial expression similar this: mâkelo , humming of the bees virtually 5-6 a-m., mongombe, humming of bees virtually 3-4 p.m., dakaà na moj3mb), humming of the bees virtually 5-6 p.m.
mbilimbili (6-7 am.) fitimà (6-10 p.m.)
njangà (8-12 a.m.) mb)li t3 to biti (11 p.m)
k3 to njangà (1 -2 p.m.) (lit: after/in/day) k3 to biti (1-2 am.)
dakalà (3-5 pm.) 'elembe lembe (3-5 a.m.)
Life After Death (Higgens, Kathleen. "A Purification Ceremony. - Some Funeral Rites Among Baka
Pygmies inwards Cameroon.")
When a Baka dies inwards the camp, she explains, the Baka moum together with present their sorrow through wailing together with crying. The wailing is done mainly past times the women. People from the army camp are sent inwards ail directions to telephone telephone inwards those members of the grouping soundless inwards the forest. Although traditionally dead bodies were left at the base of operations of the kungu: tree (known equally the tree for hiding things) together with covered with leaves, today sick people are taken to the hamlet to die. This way the authorities cannot accuse the Baka of murder.
Death evokes nifty fright of the departed spirit. The spouse of the deceased must take precautions to assure that the spirit volition non render to problem him or her. One of the ways to do this is to pigment about the eyes of the spouse, children together with parents of the deceased with white kaolin or charcoal.
The expiry of a kid particularly b gs fear. Rituals must live performed to protect the other children, particularly the immature ones. Often the slings made with the kio bark (put over the mother's left shoulder to send her infant on her correct hip) are beaten out of bark inwards monastic enjoin to reinforce their protective power. In addition, they may pigment the slings with charcoal together with white kaolin together with grade the children's foreheads' with charcoal for several days. Quite often the drive of expiry is attributed to disputes. Therefore, i causing problem may live defendant of murder. Peace together with unity, equally good equally avoiding undesirable noise, are thus of import amid the Baka.
Baka miss walking inwards the forest, Moloundou, Cameroun
The Baka believe that when a individual dies, his spirit leaves the torso but remains close the army camp for a few days. However, the spirits may render later on, either to assist hunters uncovering game or to problem the camp. In monastic enjoin to ensure a goodness hereafter human relationship with a spirit, a mourning menses of 3 nights of story-telling together with dancing is organized. The whole community is expected to participate at i fourth dimension or some other together with all must live done according to tradition to ensure that the spirit goes peacefully away together with does non render to problem the camp. The spirit observes from the wood nearby to consider that these ceremonies are done properly.
During the foremost nighttime everyone meets exterior the deceased's house. Often leaving the torso inwards the main room of the house, they tell traditional stories until morning. These stones have got the powerfulness to hypnotize animals for the hunters to kill. The only other fourth dimension these stories are told is inwards the evenings inwards their hunting camps inwards the wood . They are really entertaining together with often My with erotic details. The whole army camp joins inwards singing equally the stones also incorporate choruses. In betwixt stones, the buffoon trip the low-cal fantastic toe (mboàmboà ) is performed. This is a really comic dance, with the dancers, My clothed, calling out "comments of a suggestive nature together with making movements imitating the sexual act" (p. 10). In the midst of all the laughing, dancing together with singing, it is hoped that the mourners mightiness forget for an instant their sorrow. On the 2nd night, the people mightiness chose the
Bumi trip the low-cal fantastic toe together with on the tertiary the kose (also known equally jesa) dance. The spirits of the wood (the spirits of the foremost ancestors) are said to live acquaint inwards the dancers (men initiated into those spirits) during these nights. At the in conclusion dance, the kose spirit spits on everyone inwards monastic enjoin to give them strength. By that fourth dimension every fellow member of the army camp has come upward to the ceremony, at i fourth dimension or another, inwards monastic enjoin to delight the spirit.
Many Baka believe that after the expiry of the body, the spirit leaves for a meliorate place. Some claim that i tin hunt together with fish there. Others believe inwards heaven, equally the Catholic missionaries taught them. One tin line a dead individual past times maxim that "he has gone to Komba`s home," or "gone upward above," "gone to the large city," "gone downstream," "gone ahead," or "gone to hold off for me. "
The grave of the deceased is often dug behind his house. The people dig ledges across the 2 long sides of the grave inwards monastic enjoin to lay logs to a higher topographic point the torso later on. Higgens describes the burial equally follows:
"The body, wrapped inwards a novel stuff together with sometimes inwards a woven mat, is carried out
with the caput uncovered. H5N1 human who is non a unopen kin of the dead individual (that is,
non his son, daughters' hubby or sibling's son), stands inwards the grave, virtually 5 feet
deep, to have the body. The human lays the torso full-length facing upwards, then
puts the logs inwards topographic point together with covers them with large strips of bark which are handed
downward to him. He together with then tramples a layer of Earth downward hard, so that the rats volition not
swallow the body. He emerges from the grave together with mourners each take a handful of earth,
spit inwards it equally a in conclusion blessing, throw it inwards the grave, together with then tum dorsum to the solid of
mourning. There is no wailing circular the grave, no prayers together with no invocations. Other
males together with then encompass the grave with earth. The grave remains unmarked together with is soon
reclaimed past times brush.
Those who dig the grave together with send the torso are regarded equally ritually unclean. As
compensation, the woman parent of the deceased must give them chickens, spears or fire-
making kit bags. After the burial, they go downward to the Stream to cleanse themselves.
The dead person's mother's blood brother accompanies the grouping to betoken out different
leaves together with barks the men should utilization equally medicines. They together with then wash, together with rub these
medicines on themselves, or have got them sprinkled on their heads. (p. 1 1)"
Two or 3 days after the burial, the immediate topographic point unit of measurement of the deceased demand to purify themselves. Without drawing whatsoever attending to themselves, they leave of absence for the forest. Through a complex ritual of passing through an arch into the water, washing with some bark medicine together with standing inwards the fume made past times burning fifi (rnicrodesmis puberula. In today`s Baka orthography it is spelled pipi) leaves, the mourners cleanse themselves. The ritual is symbolic of their separation from the deceased. However this is non the destination of the separation ritual. H5N1 boy of the sis of the dead individual attaches a slice of the arch to his roof Years later, inwards a in conclusion separation celebration, he volition take this slice together with volition mix its remains with the pilus shaved from the heads of the nearest relatives.
After this begins the rite of transition. The mourners must larn to alive without this topographic point unit of measurement fellow member together with thus confront novel responsibilities. At this stage, people give the mourners gifts that symbolize nutrient acquisition together with grooming or the construction of wood shelters, thus acknowledging the changes inwards condition together with responsibilities the mourners experience through the expiry of a topographic point unit of measurement member. H5N1 adult woman may have leaves, firewood, or food, patch a human may have mat, a pike or other hunting weapons. The women are encouraged to take upward i time once to a greater extent than their of import roles of cooking together with edifice the topographic point unit of measurement camping ground hut. Ail this is done without whatsoever singing or dancing. If' the deceased is a man, it is upward to his senior brother's married adult woman to take the Pb inwards these rituals.
Nganga Ritual Dance
The term ngàngà cm hateful many things. Most importantly it refers to 2 ritual dances. One is used inwards grooming for a hunt, together with the other during a healing session. The term also refers to the people who have got been initiated into divination, either to read inwards fire, to heal people or to determine who committed violations. In his article, the report of the rite ngàngà is limited to the grooming trip the low-cal fantastic toe for a hunt together with to the selection of diviners who read inwards fire.
After a day's work, patch the women prepare the even repast together with the men prepare themselves together with their weapons for a hunt, immature boys play the "male" drum, keeping the wà beat to denote to all the Baka nearby the ngànga dance. After the meal, an elderberry asks a immature hunter to start the ngàngà fire. The hunter together with then enters a few selected houses together with collects from their fires pieces of burning wood with which he volition start the ngàngà fire.
The people start singing, together with equally the nighttime progresses they add together 2 other drums to brand a total of three. These are the manlike individual drum (moko), the smaller woman individual drum (wose) together with the kid drum (yande ), smaller yet. People shape a huge circle inwards which each historic menses grouping stays together about the tire. The drums are role of the circle: those who sing soprano are on the right, together with those who sing alto are on the left of the drums. The infinite betwixt the sack together with the people is kept for the dancers. The hunters brand their appearance. The drums together with the singing take on novel Me equally the men participate. At this stage, other participants from neighboring camps task their historic menses groups about the circle. As long equally non-Baka neighbors are acquaint many people rest home, together with the singing together with dancing lack enthusiasm. Once they leave, the Baka sing insults at them together with accuse them of annoying the forest.
When it is nighttime together with no i but the Baka are present, dancing together with singing inwards ail sorts of canons take place. Then the hunters together with other immature men acquire into the circle to trip the low-cal fantastic toe inwards harmony with i another. Dressed with leaves fixed to their lower backs together with hitting the ground equally they brand little steps, they walk behind each other patch going about the fire. Everyone looks at the fire. Later on inwards the night, the dancers, touching on the sack with their hands together with and then touching on their foreheads. This they do many times patch making loud noises. At the same fourth dimension the singing of the women intensifies. After a few minutes, the men start dancing behind each other, making a circle about the fire. Sometimes a adult woman volition speak to the forest, telling it to weaken together with to live annoyed past times the singing. Slowly, people start retiring to their huts, together with shortly only the drums are heard inwards the night. When people are gone, the Pb dancer stops dancing together with commands the drums to stop.
At virtually 10 p.m. the same dancer starts singing i time to a greater extent than together with urges every i to come upward dorsum to the fire. Soon every i is dorsum inwards a circle. The dancer sits on the ground a few inches from the sack together with stares into it. Other ngàngà (people who read the fire) bring together him close the fire. They consider the animals the hunters volition kill together with all the dangers they volition encounter. After reading inwards the sack for a while, the ngàngà hash out what they have got seen.
Meanwhile, all the others trip the low-cal fantastic toe together with sing intensely equally they come upward to the climax of the ceremony. When the ngàngà have got come upward to a consensus on what the sack reveals, the Pb dancer asks every i to halt together with listen. Then inwards a melodious vocalization he tells the story of what he has seen. He circles the sack telling virtually his "vision," patch looking into the sack to uncovering the most revealing place. His story sounds were this: "People, people, hear the forest. The wood wants to do goodness things. 1 consider animals, all sorts of animals inwards the forest.. ." As he tells his story every i has a role to play inwards it. Some dance, some sing, others response to the story past times maxim "heo," patch other ngàngà participate inwards the telling of the story. They hash out some of the specifics of the hunt.
After this, some proceed to trip the low-cal fantastic toe patch others go to their huts. As they leave, they touching on the embers of the sack with the correct hands together with grade their foreheads. They also convey a slice of ember to their ain fires inwards their huts. Then at 5 a.m., the people start singing together with dancing i time to a greater extent than until the hunters leave of absence at virtually 7 a.m.
Baka In Gabon
In Gabon, they shape a little community (of virtually 500 individuals) inwards the North, together with they are surrounded past times the Fang population, the largest community inwards Gabon, with whom they have got frequent contacts. They are, for this reason, bilingual, speaking Fang equally good equally Baka from their earliest years. Fang, similar the balance of the languages of Gabonese Republic (estimated at 50), is a Bantu language, whereas Baka is an Ubangian language. Traditionally, the Baka are hunter-gatherers together with have got a nomadic lifestyle.
The Baka Pygmies, inwards Gabon, are unusual inwards that they speak an Ubangian linguistic communication inwards an essentially Bantu environment. This little community has successfully maintained their linguistic communication despite force per unit of measurement area from Fang, the linguistic communication of i of the country’s bulk ethnic groups. However, authorities imposed sedentarization policies have got forced this population to abandon their nomadic lifestyle, a consequential alter which has of import repercussions for the community equally a whole.
Nowadays, fifty-fifty if they uncovering the volume of what they demand for subsistence inwards the forest, their province of affairs is changing, equally the Baka are becoming gradually sedentarized, leading them to abandon their ain linguistic communication for Fang. The Baka are traditionally hunter-gatherers, finding soundless the bulk of their subsistence inwards the forest. In the past, the Baka were nomads, but the authorities policy of sedentarization has forced them to settle inwards a hamlet together with build clay houses similar to those of the Fang. The hamlet has go together with then the topographic point to systematically render to after excursions to the forest, taking the topographic point of the wood camps of the past. Not only do the Baka pass less fourth dimension inwards the forest, but they don’t move equally far into the wood equally they used to and, because of this, are starting to lose a nifty bargain of the vocabulary related to tree species found inwards the primary forest. In the same way, they are no longer genuinely inwards a topographic point to administer the sort of aid requiring this type of canopy, together with hither sure practices are disappearing.
New customs are existence established; the Baka tend to alive similar the villagers together with aspire to stuff comfort. They are thus becoming to a greater extent than together with to a greater extent than subject on paid work, which way spending to a greater extent than together with to a greater extent than fourth dimension inwards the companionship of Fang, speaking the linguistic communication of their neighbors to the detriment of their own. The Baka have got established a few plantations, together with the changes inwards their diet are non ever adapted to their
organism. Idleness is gaining ground because of the increasing distance of the forest, together with alcohol dependence is becoming frequent inwards some villages. All the changes have got brought virtually novel diseases, together with according to Hélène Nzé, to a greater extent than together with to a greater extent than Baka youths are dying prematurely, barely reaching their thirties
Factors contributing to endangerment
Following the various criteria established past times UNESCO, it is clear that Baka is an endangered language; too the intergenerational linguistic communication transmission, together with the proportion of speakers with abide by to the total population, all other values established for the other criteria are weak or non-existent. No authorities policy has been topographic point into topographic point for the preservation of the l or so Gabonese languages, though for the instance of
Baka, the utilization of the linguistic communication remains vital within their ain communities. In addition, I believe that it is necessary to take leverage from the existing potent points to strengthen those weak factors which could otherwise prove deadly to linguistic communication transmission, for representative the mental attitude of the speakers towards their ain language.
Social status
The Baka are often looked downward upon past times the Fang. The latter do non consider themselves merely equally the bosses of the Pygmies equally they say - when they telephone telephone on them, equally they often do, to clear their fields - but equally their owners. Even if behind this notion nosotros tin also consider an thought of responsibleness towards the Baka, it is soundless the instance that the Fang consider them equally their property, them equally good equally their stuff goods. And equally I have got already mentioned, some people have got gone so far equally to say that they are non fifty-fifty human beings. The Fang have got successfully convinced the Baka that they are inferior to them, due to the fact that they are non schooled together with thus uneducated.
In addition, it is necessary to maintain inwards heed that the Fang brand upward to a greater extent than than a 5th of the population inwards Gabon, together with are thus i of the bulk ethnicities of the country; they also are strongly represented inwards Cameroon, their province of origin. The Baka consider the Fang equally inferior to Whites.
There is also, inwards their minds, a social hierarchy inwards which Whites are placed at the highest level, after which come upward the Fang, together with and then they themselves, the Baka, at the really bottom. This is why, it turns out to be
prestigious for the Baka to have a White individual inwards their home, together with fifty-fifty to a greater extent than so to take role inwards scientific research.
The bulk of the Baka, thus persuaded of their inferiority, are proud to present that they tin speak Fang. They seek past times whatsoever way to gain access to a higher social status, notably through inter-ethnic marriage. In Gabon, a human wishing to get married a adult woman must topographic point together a dowry, inwards the shape of compensation for the lost productivity of the bride’s family.
However, it turns out that the Fang dowry is the highest of all ethnic groups inwards Gabon, according to Mayer (2002). It is thus really hard for a immature human to get together a sufficiently large sum, together with if he’s keen to get married quickly, he volition “fall back” together with seek a Baka wife, because the dowry is to a greater extent than often than non about x times less than what it would live for a Fang wife.
Baka pygmy
The Fang human is happy with his lot, but so is his Baka wife, who together with then has access to a so-called “superior” social status, equally her children volition too. The Baka together with the Fang are 2 patrilineal societies, together with so the children from such mixed union belong to the father’s Fang lineage. The woman parent does non consider thus why she should speak Baka with her children, together with inwards to a greater extent than than one-half the cases I noted that the manlike individual parent inwards fact forbids his married adult woman from speaking her woman parent natural language to her children, who do non fifty-fifty have got a Baka topographic point unit of measurement name. These
children are lost speakers for Baka, since, fifty-fifty if they are able to empathise normal conversation together with limited themselves inwards this language, they genuinely do not, thereby highlighting that they belong to the “superior” lineage of the Fang.
source:http://www.iwgia.org/iwgia_files_publications_files/0583_informe_13_eb_opt.pdf
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp03/MQ26821.pdf
the really in conclusion one, together with then it would live the Bantus’
fault. They cannot come upward together with blame the Baka.
For the Baka know really good that i only hunt
for one’s ain consumption, i does non kill a
female creature that is pregnant, i hunts only
what i needs, together with that is non really much. But
the Bantu are the ones sending the Baka into the
forest to hunt, together with to overhunt, to together with then sell this
meat for goodness coin (of which the Baka acquire a
fraction, if anything at all).”
- Baka representative, anonymous
Baka people (pygmy) trip the low-cal fantastic toe inwards the Ngato wood area. Cameroon. Courtesy Middle Africa
The Baka, known inwards the Congo equally Bayaka (Bebayaka, Bebayaga, Bibaya), are sedentary ethnic grouping inhabiting the southeastern rainforests of Cameroon, northern Republic of Congo, northern Gabon, together with southwestern Central African Republic. They have got been historically called pygmies (the term is no longer considered respectful).
Baka people (pygmies) inwards Moloundou, Cameroun.
Environment
The Baka is the only grouping culturally adapted to the Southeast wood of Cameroon. They are rightly referred to equally the "people of the forest". Only 50 years ago, this territory was mainly virgin wood with countless elephants, god equally together with other endangered species.
Baka woman. The Baka or Bayaka pygmies alive about the Dzanga Sangha Reserve, Congo DR. Middle Africa
Few others, beside these pygmies, knew together with traveled the deep forest. The Baka are so much at dwelling solid inwards the wood that they were non long agone considered mere animals past times many Bantu groups. They were (and soundless are) thought to transform themselves into various animals that could kill others. The Baka have got medicine and
special ceremonies to obtain this powerfulness to transform themselves
Baka hut (mongulu)
. They are extremely agile inwards the wood together with tin walk long distances really rapidly without making whatsoever noise. Their incredible skills together with endurance inwards the wood brand them successful hunters. They know every flora together with recognize every creature rail no affair how small, fifty-fifty turtles. Using traps, dogs, pike together with crossbow (although disappearing) they hunt nearly all animals.
Baka people (pygmy)
When someone is sick, they brand medicine from roots, leaves, plants, barks together with trees which successfully cure many sicknesses. They also utilization plants to brand their poisonous substance arrows, which gives Little endangerment for the animals to survive. Their cognition together with adaptation to the wood surpasses the villagers who hire the Baka to hunt for them.
Baka nomadic pygmies of Cameroon
Dhellemmes, a Catholic priest who lived amid the Baka for many years noted that, "The intimacy this people has with the wood is so deep together with so sacred that at times, it seems wonderful together with magic. " --
The Baka alive inwards little hunting groups together with hunt inwards areas of the wood assigned to each group. These lands are defined past times natural borders such equally hills together with rivers. H5N1 hunting grouping tin split into smaller units. Their grouping is complex equally it includes people from many topographic point unit of measurement groups. Each core grouping comprises siblings together with cousins with the people classified into 4 basic historic menses groups: the children, the immature men together with women, the adults
who hunt together with gather, together with the elders. Each category has its ain sphere of potency together with responsibility, together with each one's contribution to the economic scheme of the social club depends on his or her historic menses together with sex.
The livelihood of each grouping depends on hunting together with gathering. The wood provides an abundance of animals, fish, honey, mushrooms, fruits, together with nuts. Honey is particularly valued past times the Baka. They often reserve the best honeycomb for the elders. When they have got too much food, they either sell it to the Bantu, fume it to preserve it, or give it to other groups equally as. When an elephant is killed, everyone inwards the surrounding expanse comes to acquire some mat. Most often, the men are involved inwards hunting together with the women inwards gathering. In grooming for a hunt of either an elephant, gorilla together with sometimes a wild pig, the rite ngangà (divining where the animals are past times reading inwards the fire) together with the yéli (the cahg to the ads) play a crucial role. For the Baka, the wood is living together with communicates with them. Instead of domineering nature, the Baka's goal is to alive in
harmony with it.
Beautiful Baka people
Mythology
Komba is believed to live the Sky God who created Baka, the "people of the forest." In the kickoff Jengi belonged to Komba, who kept him inwards a box because he was so dangerous. One day, when Komba was off collecting, a human came together with persuaded Komba's son, who had been left with strict instructions non to opened upward the box, to allow Jengi out so that he could consider him dance.
Komba, away inwards the forest, heard the audio of the trip the low-cal fantastic toe together with returned to consider Jengi flee, whereupon he was really angry, because Jengi was so dangerous. So, since human had brought this on himself, Komba said, 'Alright, yous tin have got him,' together with he left Jengi with men together with went away.
That was the fourth dimension when Komba together with human separated. Komba has hidden himself together with no i sees him, but Jengi is right away everywhere inwards the forest. Jengi thus has much closer contact with men than Komba, together with it is Jengi they telephone telephone upon inwards fourth dimension of need.
Baka people of South Eastern Cameroon.
Language
The Baka people speak Baka. Baka (also called Be-bayaga, Be-bayaka, together with Bibaya de L’est) is a dialect cluster of Ubangian languages spoken past times the Baka Pygmies of Republic of Cameroon together with Gabon. The people are ethnically unopen to the Aka, the 2 together called the Mbenga (Bambenga), but the languages are non related apart from some vocabulary dealing with the wood economy, which suggests the Aka may have got shifted to Bantu from a linguistic communication similar Baka virtually 1500 CE.
Baka pygmy man child boy Congo rainforest
Some 30% of Baka vocabulary is non Ubangian. Much of this concerns a specialized wood economy, such equally words for edible plants, medicinal plants, together with dearest collecting, together with has been posited equally the remnant of an ancestral Pygmy linguistic communication which has otherwise vanished. However, apart from some words shared with the Aka, in that location is no evidence for a wider linguistic affiliation with whatsoever of the other Pygmy peoples.
It is unclear if 3 modest varieties are mutually intelligible with Baka proper. They are Gundi (Ngundi), Ganzi, together with Massa (Limassa). Most Massa have got shifted to Gundi, which is spoken past times 9,000 people.
Baka people of Africa
History
Today betwixt 150,000 together with 200,000 Pygmies alive inwards the tropical pelting wood regions of Africa.: This is hard to verify because of their semi-nomadic Lifestyle. They are divided into many groups who part nifty similarities inwards civilisation but are various inwards language. However, they part many similar words to line " forest" activities. As a result, some linguists believe that at i fourth dimension all Pygmy groups formed i linguistic
grouping called Baakaa, together with that, throughout history, their move together with co-existence with others forced them to adopt different languages.: However, this remains only a theory.
All Pygmies alive inwards at to the lowest degree 7 African countries. The Aka (also known equally Bayaka, Biaka or Babinga) are situated inwards the Northeast of Congo equally good equally Southwest of Central African Republic. The Bongo Live inwards East Gabonese Republic together with Congo, patch the Mbuti, with its 3 sub-groups, the Efe, the Aka together with the Sua, dwell inwards the Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). The BaTwa Pygmies shape 3 sub-groups inwards Zaire with i roofing parts of Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Republic of Uganda together with the Republic of Congo.
We uncovering 3 additional groups living inwards Cameroon. The Bagieli (aiso known equally Lolodorf Pygmies), who alive close the coast with a population of virtually 2,200. The Tikar who alive amid the Tikar people inwards the Northwest province with a population of only 241. Finaly nosotros have got the Baka, whose history is gonna live recounted. Both the Bagieli together with the Tikar groups were originally Living with the Baka inwards the Southeast region. They migrated away from the Baka during the foremost one-half of the 18th century.
It is quite possible that other groups of Pygmies, such equally the Béné, Beko, Bakwe, Holo, Beka together with others, Live inwards the countries mentioned to a higher topographic point equally good equally other surrounding countries. Because they are non good documented together with because some of these names may genuinely refer to groups already mentioned, they are non listed here.
Of all the Pygmies, the Mbuti together with the Aka are past times far the most studied groups. However, equally mentioned above, a important amount of inquiry has already been done amid the Baka equally in that location is high involvement amid many religious, social, together with authorities organizations equally good equally linguistic together with anthropological researchers for working amid the Baka.
Albino Baka woman
The Baka population is found primarily inwards the Southeast part of Republic of Cameroon together with extends across the borders of Gabon, Congo together with Central Afiican Republic. The people called themselves baka or B`aka. Although the neighboring Bantu groups refer to them equally "Pygmies," they rarely utilization this term to refer to themselves . The word "Pygmy" came virtually 2,450 years agone inwards the fourth dimension of Herodotus, a Greek historian together with traveler who saw these brusk people and way "tall equally a forearm." Fortunately, few Baka know the
important of this word
Baka people
Economy
The Baka economic scheme is based on hunting, fishing, creature husbandry, pisciculture together with apiculture. The Baka, existence traditionally nomadic hunter-gatherers, are soundless relatively novel to agriculture, with most communities soundless lacking sufficient knowledge, skills together with materials to grow all their ain food.
Baka human preparing food
Yet most of the communities who have got settled along roadsides have got learned to cultivate the most mutual crops locally grown inwards the region, including plantain, cassava, maize, peanuts together with local varieties of root vegetables (similar to potatoes together with sweetness potatoes). Nevertheless, regardless of what “stage” of agricultural evolution they were found to live at, all the Baka communities visited expressed their needs for assistance in: a) skills (technical assistance on how to increment agricultural productivity); b) tools (spades, hoes, machetes, etc) and; c) seeds (for expanding quantity together with variety). Some Baka communities do ain cocoa plantations but they rent these out to the Bantu, who are meliorate equipped together with skilled to annually process the plantations with pesticides. The Baka has shifted to organic cocoa production together with that should live strongly encouraged together with supported.
Hunting is soundless practised past times the Baka, albeit less than earlier equally in that location is much less game inwards the wood today
than in that location was 50 or to a greater extent than years agone (due to multiple pressures, including population growth together with increased
access to forests past times outsiders, utilization of modern firearms, illegal merchandise inwards species, wood degradation, etc). Nevertheless, fifty-fifty for the settled communities, hunting remains, to this day, an of import role of Baka livelihood together with tradition, together with various rites of passage inwards Baka civilisation are hunting-related.
According to WWF together with PERAD (two environmental NGOs working with the Baka inwards south-east Cameroon), the occupation of over-hunting is non due to the Baka but rather a lawsuit of exterior intruders, including neighbouring Bantu populations, who often give shotguns to the Baka together with monastic enjoin them to go together with hunt for the Bantu. The Baka stressed this betoken further: inwards i community, when asked virtually how sustainable their wood activities were, a Baka representative responded equally follows:
“If all the animals were hunted inwards the forest, to
the really in conclusion one, together with then it would live the Bantus’
fault. They cannot come upward together with blame the Baka.
For the Baka know really good that i only hunt
for one’s ain consumption, i does non kill a
woman individual creature that is pregnant, i hunts only
what i needs, together with that is non really much. But
the Bantu are the ones sending the Baka into the
wood to hunt, together with to overhunt, to together with then sell this
meat for goodness coin (of which the Baka acquire a
fraction, if anything at all).”
- Baka representative, anonymous
Women play an invaluable role inwards Baka society. In improver to their numerous responsibilities inwards relation to
edifice the mongulu (the traditional Baka hut), NTFP collection, line-fishing together with to a greater extent than lately also farming,
Baka women are also the ones inwards accuse of keeping the topographic point unit of measurement together, together with of guiding together with advising their
husbands together with their children. This has really of import implications for Baka livelihoods, together with for maintaining
the highly respected together with empowered role of Baka women, which reiterates the importance of including
women inwards all stages of inquiry together with projection piece of work undertaken with the Baka.
Hunting net. The Baka or Bayaka pygmies alive about the Dzanga Sangha Reserve
The Baka traditionally alive inwards autonomous clans (or kanda) of virtually twenty people, each consisting of virtually five
or vi households. Dhellemmes claims in that location are unopen to xxx clans amid the Baka, together with Dodd claims virtually 25." When a topographic point unit of measurement arrives from a long rest either inwards the wood or from some other camp, the human builds a solid amid his ain clan inwards the village.
All the members of the clan consider i some other equally relatives, fifty-fifty those to whom they are non closely related. Each topographic point unit of measurement unit lives amid the other members of the same clan. There are vi clans represented inwards Ndjibot: the yè-ng6to (a form of vine); the yè-silo (a form of vine); the yè-likimbà (a form of mushroom that grows independently); the yè-mbodo (refers to the yambo , a drug leafage which they smoke); the yè-njhbi (refers to the kusa,' vine which leaves a grade on yous when yous touching on it); together with finally, represented past times only i family, the yè-yànji (which refers to the smoking leaves used to guard against the bees when getting honey).
Each clan has a main who is responsible for the protection of his people together with for the decision-making that concerns the entirety of the group. Baka social club is neither authoritarian nor repressive together with it is thus an egalitarian society. There is no penal code exactly equally in that location is no private property, for everyone lives inwards community together with the wood does non belong to anyone inwards particular (to the Baka it was given past times their god “Komba”)
Baka tribe elder
The Baka also have got social norms that give rising to a shape of collective intelligence, a “group consciousness”. An analysis of the administrative construction of the Baka shows how the traditional community fundamentally works, with a main who is surrounded past times groups of advisors together with collaborators. The main “nkumou” plays a key role inwards Baka society, together with to go a main is a rite together with ritual that far exceeds the “tests” together with requirements of our modern social club (see RASED, 2006 for a detailed description). The ‘boklaks’ are the wise sages of the clan who assist the main inwards assessing together with maintaining tradition together with inwards passing on knowledge, wisdom together with tradition from generation to generation.
Other vital groups of the Baka community include: the “belombe”, specialist together with expert hunters; the “bigambi” or topographic point unit of measurement representatives (“family”’ existence a to a greater extent than extensive concept than inwards our modern society); the craftsmen together with women who create weapons for hunting, tools for line-fishing together with harvesting, equally good equally the weavers who weave clothes, nets together with baskets; together with the “nganga”, or specialists inwards traditional medicine.
To recall that the Baka have got no cognition of social organisation is thus a severe misconception (as was
the instance with several of the authorities authorities interviewed). To what extent the traditional shape of social
organisation tin live translated to jibe “Western” models of social organisation is an interesting question, together with i that mightiness live worth exploring inwards to a greater extent than depth.
Baka adult woman carrying charge on her back
Authority inwards the hunting grouping may depend on historic menses but fifty-fifty to a greater extent than so on skills. Anyone tin have got "authority" inwards a land he or she has mastered, but no i cm claim to live the leader of the group. The best hunter is usually to a greater extent than respected, but the people volition oppose him or anyone else who tries to accumulate powerfulness or manipulate the group. One cm live rejected past times the grouping if he tries to impose his way.
Chief of baka village
The Baka volition say that he acts similar the villagers (the Bantu) who have got no abide by for the forest. Decisions supported past times everyone are pleasing to the forest. The grouping volition endeavor to uncovering the forest's volition past times reading together with interpreting natural signs such equally the winds together with storms. Only a unanimous determination tin live the volition of the forest. The prolonged noises of a dispute are offensive to the forest. For this reason, they often utilization jokes together with ridicules to communicate or settle their disagreements.
In improver to kinship divisions, the Baka have got 8 categories of people, classified according to historic menses together with status. Each category is associated with a social role together with economical activity. These are:
( I ) dindo : Small baby.
(2) yande : Children upward to virtually 10 years old. They play about the army camp but also assist with the work. The girls go line-fishing together with fetch water, patch the boys larn basic skills together with are circumcised.
Baka kid
(3) sia na wose : Young girls of 12 together with thirteen twelvemonth old. They larn adult responsibilities such equally caring for children, edifice mongulu , cooking, together with gathering food. They may start having sexual relationships, together with when they get married (usually about 14), they volition most probable remain matrilocal for the foremost few months.
(4) wanjo : Young males of 12 together with thirteen years old. They right away laid about to kill their foremost animals, but they have got to borrow weapons equally they do non ain their personal spears or machetes. After his foremost "big" kill (usually an antelope), neither his manlike individual parent nor his woman parent nor whatsoever of the women inwards the army camp volition swallow the meat. The hunter never eats the meat of an creature he kills himself. Their abstinence volition assist the wanjo go a goodness hunter together with have got lots of luck inwards finding animals. Later on the woman parent may start eating his meat, but it volition take longer earlier his manlike individual parent does. It is at this historic menses that the boys go through the Jengi initiation ceremony which admits them to the world of the wood people.
(5) mbotàki : H5N1 human inwards his prime, a hunter. After a youth has proven himself equally a hunter together with the women have got started to swallow his meat, he must proceed to kill lots of animals earlier his woman parent is allowed to swallow it. After a divulge of kills, the manlike individual parent makes a subway scheme remedy from leaves inwards the wood together with cooks a portion of meat inwards the mixture. Having eaten this, the manlike individual parent is together with then gratis to swallow his son's meat . Thereafter the hunter inwards the wood ever carries his ain pike together with other hunting equipment . The hunter never eats his ain meat, but must give it all away. If he kills an elephant neither he nor his manlike individual parent or woman parent may swallow of it .
(6) wose: H5N1 married woman, usually with children. She is an expert gatherer, fisher, together with mongulu builder. She works inwards plantations together with plays a major role inwards providing together with preparing nutrient for the men.
(7) kobo: H5N1 middle-aged human or woman. They may live considered elders, but they soundless have got roles equally hunters or gatherers. However, their trips into the wood are less frequent.
(8) gbekoà : An old human or woman. These people have got retired from hunting together with gathering together with rest inwards the hamlet camps twelvemonth round. They facial expression after children together with are kept past times the balance of the camp. They proceed to participate inwards army camp discussions together with negotiations.
Polygamy is rare. Rarely do 2 wives alive with their hubby at the same the. H5N1 married adult woman usually stays with relatives inwards Ndjibot or inwards some other army camp patch the other lives with the husband. Although the chiefs want to have got many wives is exceptional, it is good accepted past times everyone inwards the village. Many evidence that a chief`s
polygamous lifestyles has brought them many problems, yet no i judges them or considers them a bad person. "It is within their rights to have got many wives," the Baka Say. Although the Baka have got been known for their monogamy, right away with the introduction of plantations, some of them are attracted to the thought of having to a greater extent than than i married adult woman inwards monastic enjoin to create to a greater extent than crops.
Marriage
There is no union ceremony. When 2 people love each other, they prepare for marriage. The human gives gifts to his mother-in-law, and, if they alive inwards the village, he builds a mud solid for him together with his hereafter wife. If they alive inwards a wood camp, the adult woman builds a mongulu . When the fourth dimension has come upward to live united, the man, during the evening, goes to the girl's parents' solid to verbalize with her. After spending a brusk fourth dimension there, he tells her that she must come upward with him. They both go to their novel dwelling solid where they pass the night. The side past times side day, they are considered married together with volition proceed to alive together. It is non until the duet has children volition they
live considered a permanent couple. Until together with then the union is inwards a trial period. H5N1 divulge of marriages do non in conclusion beyond this period.
Actually, she is expected to remain faithful to her novel hubby together with to brand her union work, but is free
to alive inwards both her parents' dwelling solid together with her husband's. If a adult woman does non go pregnant after some time, she may go to her kàà-lé (father's sister), who volition give of her ain saliva mixed with ngele, inwards substitution for a little M. The barren adult woman volition together with then apply the ngele to her belly inwards monastic enjoin to go fertile. In addition, the hubby together with married adult woman may wearable strings carefully made out of sure wood plants about their waist. These together with other traditional medicines tin assist the duet to comport children.
Baka hunter marching
Like all other Pygmy groups, the Baka are patrilocal. However, they pass an initial menses of uxorilocality during the fïrst few years of marriage. The scheme is quite flexible, though, equally some males prefer to alive with their in-laws together with rest inwards t heir camp. Normally, their rest with their in-laws volition vary from vi months to vi years, although the 2 extremes are rare. Not only volition the hubby non pronounce the names of his brothers-in- law, but neither volition he pronounce the names of his sisters-in-law, his wife's parents equally good equally grand-parents. The hubby can, however, utilization the names of the children. H5N1 topographic point unit of measurement may attempt to maintain their son-in-law inwards their army camp indefinitely.
Although they rarely succeed, some people from Ndjibot who have got gone elsewhere to many have got non come upward back, fifty-fifty after 12 years. When the gili love a sure son-in-law, they may brand some medicine with a special wood called ngbi together with rub it or pound it onto the topographic point where he oftentimes sits. This volition assure that he volition non leave of absence the army camp to go dorsum to his ain family.
The ngili na wose exercises much powerfulness over her ko-là a Ie . If he does non perform equally expected, she tin easily curse him merely past times speaking words against him. If he does non give plenty gifts, she may threaten him past times maxim that her miss must render home. This happens frequently, together with when it does, the hubby may convey dorsum his married adult woman dwelling solid only after he has given gifts to his mother-in-law.
However, the human relationship with one's gili demand non live negative. The mother in law has non only the powerfulness to demand, but also to help, to bless together with to give goodness luck. The mixture of her saliva with the ngele volition assure the kodà a lè goodness luck inwards hunting. The goal of every hubby is to maintain peace with his gili, together with of course of instruction it tin live achieved when all parties are reasonable. The Baka have got a potent sense of justice. [f one's gi-lé na
wose makes unrealistic demands, the ko-là a lè may speak up, involving the elders inwards the camp. If the immature human is right, they volition inquire the woman parent to ease upward on him.
Today in that location are pressures to maintain the Baka from taking wives far away, leaving the hamlet for whatsoever extended menses of time. Now that many Baka have got their ain fields, it is sometimes hard for them to leave of absence their fields inwards monastic enjoin to alive elsewhere. This limitation does non apply to all. Many immature men, who do non yet have got their ain plantations, are gratis to travel. In addition, men who have got a wife, sis or woman parent who tin take aid of their fields, are gratis to travel. This is sometime the instance when a married human seeks a 2nd married adult woman from some other camp.
There are also pressures from the neighboring Bantu that maintain the Baka from marrying far away. The Bantu do non favor the semi-nomadic lifestyle of the Baka, including their stays at their gili's camps, because they often rely on Baka labor to cultivate their fields. The Bantu who has trained a Baka to piece of work for him together with has given him gifts, volition oppose his project design to move or displace elsewhere. However, the Baka's fieedom and their obligations toward their gili seem, so far, stronger than the Bantu's efforts.
Baka people
Divorce
Divorce for the Baka is uncomplicated together with easily obtained, equally long equally the 2 parties concur on the separation. If a married adult woman desires to divorce her husband, she may leave of absence him together with go dorsum to her parents. If the hubby wants her back, he must address his gili equally good equally his (ex) wife. This procedure often takes many months, during which the hubby lives with the in-laws. The gili must live satisfied earlier they allow the miss go dorsum to her husband's village.
On the other hand, if the hubby wants to divorce his wife, he volition inquire her to leave. If she leaves, they are considered divorced. If she does non consent, they volition usually rest together together with piece of work out their problems. The elders often acquire involved together with play an of import role inwards the settlement of marital disputes. They assist the younger couples past times giving them advice together with solutions
Baka adult woman holding her child
Religious Belief
Baka people believe that Komba is the God who created the "people of the forest" together with everything else. The Baka know niggling virtually Komba, but they believe that he is goodness because he gave them the forest. He non only cares for the Baka, but also for ail the animals of the forest. Jengi, also called Djengi or Ejengi, the main spirit of the forest, is to a greater extent than involved inwards the daily Life of the Baka equally he brings blessing, healing, protection together with helps uncovering animals.
Pygmies from Cameroon's Baka tribe perform for the Pope inwards the Cameroonian capital, Yaounde, earlier his divergence for Angola.
In the Iücàn) (chantfables), Komba is described equally an old man, total of wisdom, yet a nifty hunter. He lived a long fourth dimension agone with men, but became annoyed past times the dissonance they made, their dances, together with their constant insults. It is together with then that he decided to alter some of them into animals. These were the foremost animals created. After that he left for the sky together with no human or beast has ever seen him since. However, he soundless loves the people together with provides for them. The wood is living together with inwards a sense it is an extension of Komba . One Baka said that the wood is similar a manlike individual parent together with a woman parent who carefully facial expression &er their children. When the hunt is bad or someone is sick, it may live because the wood is sleeping. Singing together with dancing assist to wake it upward together with brand it facial expression favorably on the people.
Baka people (pygmy) of Cameroun
The likàn) tell us that inwards the kickoff of time, human lived with Komba together with bis topographic point unit of measurement . Life was slow then, equally Komba shared ail his possessions with the people. These stories also tell us that fifty-fifty today Komba is really interested inwards all details of their lives, including their success inwards hunting together with their health. Dodd notes that, "Kumba is providential together with lives 'somewhere inwards the sky; he volition 'keep a Baka well' who follows the basic social rules but he is non direct punitive nor does he offering or hope Me after death. There is no formal worship of Kumba nor are in that location whatsoever ceremonies of praise. "
Baka people
The Baka believe that all men are composed of flesh together with blood, a breath, a shadow, an paradigm together with a spirit. When a human dies, his body, breath together with shadow leave. His spirit, flee from the body, enjoys much powerfulness over man. He nonetheless Lives a similar life but remains invisible.
Baka people performing Healing
Through rites, invocations, symbols together with rituals, the Baka attempt to influence the forest. As they do this, they may inquire either Komba, the spirits, or the wood to bless them. Their singing together with dancing play a crucial role inwards their rituals together with inwards their daily life activities. Through singing, the women tin delight the wood together with fifty-fifty telephone telephone inwards the animals inwards grooming for a hunt. Not a solar daytime goes past times that the women are not singing at i fourth dimension or another.
Baka priest inwards Dja wood reserve
Ethnomusicologist Simha Arom describes the beauty together with complexity of the Aka music, which is much similar to the Baka music, saying, ". . .as l was listening to them, there, at the border of the deep equatorial forest, 1 realized that 1 was witnessing some of the most elaborately complex music, polyphonically, contraputaily together with rhythmically, of all the non-written music inwards Africa or elsewhere."" Although the Baka do non have got the word
"music" inwards their language, their singing together with musical instruments' : are at the really pump of heir culture.
Jengi is the main "me" (spirit) together with has powerfulness over all the me (Baka ancestors) inwards the forest. He is considered goodness equally he looks after the welfare of the Baka. Many of his children (those initiated) are inwards danger, they may telephone telephone his call together with he volition deliver them. If an injustice is done, a Baka tin also telephone telephone on Jengi equally good equally whatsoever other "me," to punish or fifty-fifty kill a criminal. However, none of the spirits would ever have got to harm an innocent person.' In every Baka army camp in that location is a human who plays the role of Jengi, but he may never stand upward for Jengi inwards his ain camp.
Spirits (Me)
The Baka people believe that the spirits are existent people. At expiry each i becomes a spirit. Yes, spirits are humans! It is the spirits of those who have got already died. And why not? Othewise, where would they come upward from? We have got spirits correct hither who alive close the people. They piece of work for those who are non yet dead. One day, we, who are soundless amid the living, volition brand them a costume with leaves, together with they volition come upward dancing. Just similar existent people! They trip the low-cal fantastic toe inwards the yard, together with nosotros offering them food, together with and then they leave. (POLI, Chap. 12, p. 4).
The me (spirit) tin also do evil amid the people past times bringing sickness on them. When this happens, the elders brand medicine inwards an endeavor to contrary the harm done together with to chase away those evil spirits.
There are at to the lowest degree ix different kinds of mg active inwards the lives of the Baka people. Most of them are good known, fifty-fifty past times the immature people. These are the mokondi , 'emboàmboà , 'emboàndà , ngaje, mongelebo , nyabolà , wungà , kose together with joboko . All of these spirits seem to jibe John Mbiti's Definition of the "leaving-dead. "': However, equally Mbiti points out, it is non ever slow to categorize spirits.
The spirits play an of import role inwards the lives of the Baka. They constantly seek their approving during a hunt or whatsoever other activities together with acquaint nutrient offerings.
Baka people dancing
1. The mokondi are considered goodness spirits who similar to alive close the people. The elders may inquire them to come upward either when someone is sick or when they consider that the whole hamlet tin utilization strength together with medicine. Because they usually rest for 2 or 3 weeks at a time, the women must build them i or to a greater extent than mongulu close the village. While the women sing something similar to the yéli, the m6kondi trip the low-cal fantastic toe something similar to the likàno , but ever maintain their backs to the people together with the elders are gratis to bring together them inwards the dance. They are covered from caput to toe inwards raffia. Because they clothes together with trip the low-cal fantastic toe somewhat similar Jengi, they are sometime called the sons of Jengi. As they dance, they rub their hidden faces on children together with sick people to give them healing strength. During the many days they are inwards the village, they reveal the traditional medicine the people demand at that time. These spirits also play an of import role inwards hunting. At their wood camp, the
hunters oftentimes called on them to reveal where the animals are. When the hunters have got killed animals with their help, they give them the hearts together with livers inwards return. The hunters throw the raw hearts together with livers cutting inwards little pieces all about them. The "me" (spirit) take grip of together with swallow them.
2, The 'emboàmboà (also called mboàmboà ) are buffoon spirits which brand people express joy at funerals. They come upward to every expiry ceremony, where they may perform the 1aa1à trip the low-cal fantastic toe on i or 2 nights. During this comical together with diverting performance, they clothes inwards leaves or palm branches together with speak inwards deep growling voices. This is non to live confused with the 'emboàmboà dance, which is non performed past times 'emboàmboà, but past times the immature adults who, earlier the 'emboàmboà come, express joy together with mimic them. The 'emboàmboa
ever perform on the foremost nighttime of the ceremony at virtually 3 a.m. They may brand it naked from the wood together with steal clothes together with other items from the people's homes inwards the army camp or hamlet which they leave of absence inwards the wood at the destination of the ritual.
3. The 'emboàndà (also called mboàndà ) spirits are similar to the 'emboàmboà but with a different role. They do non come upward during a expiry ceremony and, similar the ngaje, they are called upon to convey healing together with give medicine when someone is sick. They may also come, sometime early on inwards the morning, to prepare the hunters for a hunting trip. They trip the low-cal fantastic toe direct on the hunting weapons the hunters convey earlier them. They volition do so
without ever cutting their feet. This ritual assures that they volition kill many animals on their hunting trip.
4. The ngaje spirits, similar the 'emboàmboà , come upward only to perform the laàlà trip the low-cal fantastic toe during the expiry celebration. Places close the hamlet are selected where people may leave of absence some clothes for them to Wear. If in that location are non plenty clothes, they do non come. Their faces are uncovered, but no i recognizes them, equally they are strangers. They speak similar the 'emboàmboà together with milk shiver hands with the people really hard. However, dissimilar the 'emboàmboà , they are serenity together with do non run ail over the place. If in that location is too much noise
(often made past times the 'emboàmboà ), they volition non come. They alive far away inwards the forest, equally they dislike the dissonance of the villagers.
5. The mongelebo spirits cm only come upward during a expiry ceremony. The mongelebo, with the 'emboamboà together with the ngaje all trip the low-cal fantastic toe at the same time. Like the 'emboàmboà , they steal clothes inwards houses when the people are gone. They only Wear these clothes during their performance. No i tin recognize them equally they are strangers. They usually come upward at virtually 4 a.m. on the foremost nighttime of the ceremony, after the 'emboàmboà , together with may trip the low-cal fantastic toe until dawn. They perform the laàlà, but do it differently than the 'emboàmboà together with ngaje. They never speak, but only whistle.
6. The nyabolà spirits come upward only when an elephant has been killed. They trip the low-cal fantastic toe together with celebrate with the people together with accompany the hunters dorsum to the village. The nyabolà, the mongelebo , equally good equally the wùngà spirits who come upward during the ngàngà ritual, are rarely active together with are non good known past times the younger generation.
7. The in conclusion 2 spirits, the kose, who come upward during the ngàngà ritual, together with the joboko , who come upward during the yéli ritual, are only known past times the elders, equally they are the ones who command these 2 of import rituals. It is hard to tell at this betoken if these rituals are passed on to younger generations with the same intensity equally it was inwards the past.
+ nje "blood; life; strength; unity." The mboni ritual, although non often performed, is an of import aspect of the culture. This alliance is made only betwixt men. Through such alliances, men tin build sure relationships which they tin autumn dorsum on inwards instance of sickness together with tragedy. They do non potable each other's blood equally such. Instead, they dip either plantain or yarn or other nutrient inwards the mixed blood of the 2 people together with share
the food. They cannot swallow meat inwards this ritual equally it already contains blood. When such a covenant has been performed, the 2 people go kin. Therefore, fifty-fifty when involving a Bantu together with a Baka, intermarriage within their families is forbidden together with considered incest.
+ nguso "saliva; blessing. " Saliva tin never live applied past times itself. It is ever used mixed with ngele (Komba's blood) or coal. If a hunter has misfortune together with hears either his wife, his woman parent or his father's sis speak virtually him, he may go to her together with inquire for her blessing. She volition together with then take her saliva, mix it with either ngele or coal, together with apply it on the hunter's forehead. She may also give a prayer, but if she does she may or may non address it to Komba or the spirits. Her words lone have got the powerfulness to bless.
+ libanjo-bo "forehead; goodness luck; blessing." The concept of goodness luck is soundless potent amid the Baka, particularly the hunters. There are countless do's together with don'ts related to diets, habits, rituals, sexual activities together with formulas which tin convey goodness or bad luck. However some people, particularly those who labor inwards their plantations 2 or 3 times per week, realize that hard work, non only luck, contributes to a goodness harvest.
The Baka on the Lomié route may never nether whatsoever circumstances take the saliva from a deceased person. The giving of saliva to brand the ngaje is done past times the kàà-lé (father's sister) or equally a in conclusion resort the tita-lé (mother's brother) a few days after the burial of the deceased.
Baka cultural dance
Baka Passage of Rites (Higgens, Kathleen. "Ritual together with Symbol inwards Baka Life History.")
The Baka are inwards a menses of transition from hunting together with gathering to a sedentary together with agricultural way of Me. They are kickoff to alive inwards villages with the main road. In her article, Higgens shows that the Baka soundless have got an of import human relationship with the fores, which provides a ground for their worldview.
Baka pygmy dancing, Cameroon
While the initiation ritual of immature males is the principal way whereby both, Baka men together with women, are brought into an alliance with the forest, the Baka necktie to the wood begins earlier nascence together with continues after death. Consequently, the next descriptions follow the Baka Me trajectory equally it leads upward to together with and then away from the Jengi ceremony (p. 100)
H5N1 Baka, patch soundless inwards his mother's womb, is exposed to the forest's protection. To ensure a rubber delivery together with a good for yous baby, i rubs the breadbasket of the expectant woman parent with a scarlet glue made upward of ngele, a pulverisation made from the mahogany tree. When the infant is born, the ngele is applied to the umbilical cord. This way, the infant begins its foremost days nether the continuing protection of the forest. When a infant is 2 days old, the
manlike individual parent makes protective charms from a special type of wood which the kid volition wearable about his waist together with ankles. The manlike individual parent must also brand a carrying sling for the child, which has protective powers.
In Ndjibot the belly together with the umbilical cord are non rubbed with ngele to protect woman parent together with child. The ngele medicine, which tin usually live found at whatsoever fourth dimension inwards the village, is only used to rub the mother's belly on the solar daytime of delivery when she gives nascence to twins. When the umbilical cord falls off, the woman parent takes it together with plants it with a novel banana tree. It is a symbol that the kid volition grow equally speedily equally the banana tree. Only the grand-father (titi-lé ni mokose ) together with the grand-mother (titi-lé nà wose) volition later swallow the foremost bananas produced. This novel custom has been borrowed from the neighboring Bantu groups during the in conclusion generation or two.
Many other natural resources are used to ensure that the kid grows potent together with healthy. As with the Mbuti child,:" for the foremost 3 years of his life, the Baka kid is rarely topographic point downward together with almost ever remains inwards physical contact with mother, father, or sister. In this way the kid enjoys total security. However, although really young, a kid has equally much autonomy together with personal responsibleness equally do older individuals. H5N1 kid learns
skills, non past times fond education, but through imitation. The learning is his ain responsibility. This is also fourth dimension for the learning of rituals, singing, together with dancing. The kid learns speedily to brand his ain decisions. For example, at virtually the historic menses of eight, he may create upward one's heed whether or non to have got his teeth cutting to a betoken inwards the traditional Baka way.
In pre-adolescence, the children's imitating becomes to a greater extent than serious. The boys build their ain solid together with alive together until they marry. Some flora their ain "practice" plantations together with start killing larger animals. Rituals are important, equally they convey each i closer to together with inwards harmony with the spirits of the forest.
"Girls, when they go immature women, must live fully expert at the ritual shape of singing that provides an accompaniment for the hunting rituals. This special singing, similar to yodeling, is called yéli together with its powerfulness 'weakens the forest' or to a greater extent than specifically, 'weakens the hearts of the animals,' together with this ensures that the men cm kill them" (p. 101).
Baka miss undergoing puberty initiation ritual. Cameroon
When a few immature women betwixt eighteen together with twenty years of historic menses tin live found inwards the camp, an initiation cm take place. In preparation, older women get together leaves together with other necessary ingredients to brand medicine. During their initiation, girls are given a potable of medicinal leaves, water, together with honey. Each is taken to a pathway leading into the wood where the spirit of Jengi , the main spirit of the forest, volition give her a novel powerfulness together with powerfulness to sing. Higgens describes this spiritual experience maxim that, "There, patch she is alone, the spirit
(Literally: 'the wood person') holds a loving cup for her patch she drinks. The spirit teaches her to sing the Song that 'calls' the animals, together with she yodels well" (p. 102)
Jengi is the main spirit of the forest, specific to the Baka people, together with sent to them past times Kornba . While Komba is for the whole world, Jengi is for their territory.
While the girls come upward to adulthood through this ritual, the immature must live brought nether the protection of Jengi through some other ritual. Every 5 to 7 years, Jengi comes to have the immature males, who arrive at from virtually 12 to twenty years old. The initiation takes months of grooming past times the whole camp. Although most of the activities involving the initiation take topographic point inwards the army camp or village, the initiation itself ever takes topographic point inwards the forest. In every camp, "Jengi is 'kept' past times a sure man, who is called 'master', or 'chief,' or 'father' of Jengi. Each army camp also has a 'spokesman,' chosen past times Jengi, who transmits Jengi words to the balance of the camp" (p. 102). Jengi must never live seen or heard past times women. Therefore, the women inwards particular are subject on the spokesman to have Jengi's instructions. In monastic enjoin to shroud himself, Jengi appears
enveloped inwards a two-story raffia roofing that tin live extended or compressed. At total height, it tin arrive at over 3 meters. This roofing is made of fresh raffia together with is woven past times the immature initiated boys.
At the border of the camp, close the forest, a 2 meter broad cover made of raffia is tied betwixt 2 trees. Other screens are ahead leading into the forest, where Jengi lives inwards a leaf-hut without his covering. Before the initiation,
"The eldest sis of each immature human who is to live initiated shaves the caput of her
blood brother inwards elaborate patterns. The candidates are freedom covered inwards fossil oil together with ngele, all
of it accompanied past times the approving with saliva. Ngele inwards this context is said to be
Komba's blood, which volition maintain the candidates' bodies "soft." The candidates, each
carrying a walking stick, together with then disappear behind the screen. Each is accompanied past times a
kinsman or guardian, for otherwise he would live too frightened at the betoken when he is
killed (p. 102).
Meanwhile, the initiated men, hidden behind the raffia screens, clap their hands together with scream together with and then thrust long sticks through the cover inwards the management of the camp:
"Then each guardian emerges with his candidate's stick. Its tip is covered with blood.
This signifies that Jengi has topographic point the initiates to death. How this happens has been
described to me equally follows: Jengi cuts the candidate's throat, throws his torso to the
ground together with then cuts it up--the latter word existence the same term used to refer to the
butchering of animals. Jengi together with then takes out the initiate's Liver together with eats it. It is this
that afterward enables him to recognize i of his ain "children" inwards the forest,
together with he volition come upward to their rescue when they called his call (102-3).
Jengi together with then puts the parts dorsum together together with blows into the initiate's nostrils, so he receives life again. He is right away nether the protection of Jengi who has "saved him. " Meanwhile, the women sing particular songs. The eldest sis or the woman parent of each initiate holds his stick together with with the assist of a leafage keeps the flies from touching the blood.
Should she fail, the initiate would die. Then,
"Old women cry pleadingly, "Treat them gently!" The initiate's paternal aunt spits,
together with inwards nifty fright she shouts loudly inwards the management of the screen, "Be saved, don't Ml
him forever! " She takes medicine she has prepared together with sprinkles it inwards the management of
Jengi, saying, "Don`t live angry; live at peace!" The grouping of women swing their
breasts with their hands, together with they wrinkle their noses, saying, "Let him live saved; let
him live! " They clap their hands together with postage stamp their feet . After this the guardians return
through the cover to take the sticks together with nutrient together with H2O to the newly resurrected
initiates (p. 103).
Finally, the initiates come upward out from behind the screens together with people take off their ain bracelets together with necklaces together with give them to the immature initiates. Then the women sing together with trip the low-cal fantastic toe patch the initiates sit down inwards a row, crouched inwards the fetal position. Many times Jengi comes from behind the cover to dance, together with then exits again. It is a the of joy, festivity together with excitement.
When the ceremonies are over, those who have got exactly been initiated pass the nights inwards a special leaf-hut so that Jengi tin give them medicine to brand their bodies potent together with protect them from sorcerers. The initiates believe that right away that Jengi has killed them together with brought them dorsum to life, he volition do so i time to a greater extent than if'they are killed. This gives them courage to confront danger inwards the forest. Jengi is beneficial only to the men, equally he volition non protect the women together with children. Higgens quotes Robert Dodd who suggests that Jengi has an equalizing role for the Baka sexes, since inwards several ways the adult woman has a dominant topographic point inwards Baka society
Now roles together with expectations are redefined for those immature men together with women. They volition shortly confront total adult responsibilities, equally they displace toward the institution of a family. Men volition go on hunting together with women gathering. The performance of the appropriate rituals is the responsibleness of all adults together with assures success inwards hunting. These rituals include the weakening of the animals past times the women singing yéli, the imparting of approving through ngele together with saliva, together with various forms of divination that reveal where to hunt.
Older people go kobo, which way " elder," "wise man," "senior," or "ancestor." As they retire from hunting together with gathering, they rest inwards the base of operations army camp together with go respected advisors. Their primary role is to settle disputes, sentinel their grandchildren, together with plough over on legends together with rituals.
Death of old historic menses is considered normal. If a younger individual dies, in that location is something wrong. His expiry may live attributed to the breaking of taboos (as inwards the instance of a newborn miss who people said died because her woman parent walked inwards damp places), sorcery, adultery, neglecting his wife, or disturbing the wood (such equally creating undesirable noise).
Baka human pouring herbal medicated H2O on his eyes
Death ceremonies are non only of import for the people, equally they mourn, together with for the spirit of the deceased, so that it may leave of absence peacefully, but also to convey harmony betwixt the wood together with the Baka. As Higgens points out:
"The ceremonies next expiry convey out 2 of the main purposes for Baka
ritual. Throughout Me, together with particularly after the expiry of a topographic point unit of measurement member, rituals and
the application of symbolic substances are vital to "keep a person's torso potent so
that he volition live good on the earth." The other major go for ritual, particularly for
ritual dances, such equally those danced after a death, is to convey joy to the forest, because
if the wood rejoices, animals volition come upward unopen to the Baka, together with the people volition have
meat (p. 105)
Baka human together with his kid
Twins are feared equally they are said to have got special powers. After their birth, both twins are given raw meat (of whatsoever animal) from which the babies suck the blood. This makes the babies to topographic point with an creature together with volition exercise some form of powerfulness over it. That creature volition live attracted to them because of the blood they ate, which way that the twins volition live successful hunters together with volition ever have got plenty to swallow of that animal. For equally long equally the woman parent cooks for the twins, she volition utilization only pando wood" to feed the fie. When the children are large plenty to crawl, the parents volition apply ngele mixed with a pulverisation made of the dorsum of the kulu tree on the children's forehead. The words pronounced past times twins are powerful. If they speak fifty-fifty lightly i time to a greater extent than to someone, this individual volition endure from a headache. Fortunately, twins are rare.
The utilization of charms are quite similar to the practices of Yenga . H5N1 ngba (charm) on a string is topographic point about the cervix of a infant or toddler to supply him or her with strength together with protection. inwards monastic enjoin to topographic point the ngba on a string, i must rut the wood inwards the sack together with and then pierce it either with a slice of metallic or, inwards a to a greater extent than traditional fashion, with a precipitous slice of pipi': (an extremely potent wood). - - Sometimes the ngba is topographic point on a string made of baàlà,-- which volition eventually break. When it does, no i must facial expression for it equally it way that the kid is right away potent together with no longer needs the ngba. Otherwise, i may Wear a ngba until the historic menses of virtually six.
Other protective charms are used; notwithstanding they are non specifically for children. For example, teenagers together with adults tin wearable the ngbi (a string skillfully made with the within of the ngbi bark) about their wrists. Often ngele is applied to the string to add together to its power. This string medicine volition protect against danger together with spirits together with is most often used when traveling. H5N1 criminal volition non succeed inwards killing someone who wears this string.
This practise is used fifty-fifty past times the immature people, although non equally much equally inwards the past times generation.
Because a pregnant adult woman brings bad luck, a different string is attached to the husband's talocrural articulation to assure him goodness luck inwards hunting. He volition Wear it from the kickoff to the destination of the pregnancy, removing it only when the infant is born. H5N1 hubby who does non Wear this string patch his married adult woman is pregnant volition for sure convey disaster on himself together with everyone hunting with him. The same applies whether i hunts with traps, a spear, or a gun. Although only the hubby may Wear this string, other hunters inwards the army camp may seek goodness luck past times asking the expecting woman parent to apply her ngele (mixed with her ain saliva) on them.
Parent-Children relationship
The parent-child human relationship is extremely potent amid the Baka. In Ndjibot, equally good equally amid other Pygmies,Ii the kid almost ever remains with his woman parent or manlike individual parent during the foremost 3 years. Children are born 2 to 4 years apart. This way, the parents tin give themselves only to their child. During this time, the kid sleeps with the woman parent until he or she is weaned (at virtually 3 years of age). The parents slumber inwards separate beds, equally the hubby is forbidden to have got intercourse with his wife. This sexual practice taboo volition in conclusion until the kid is weaned, able to walk together with eat, together with knows his way about inwards the camp.
Baka woman parent breastfeeding her child
During this time, the hubby together with married adult woman are non to have got affairs with others. If they do, the kid volition acquire sick together with fifty-fifty die. If the hubby has an affair together with the infant gets sick, he may salve the life of the kid past times washing him or her inwards some medicine. In a little tub, the manlike individual parent volition wring some tukusà (a form of vine) leaves inwards the water, which volition together with then go thick, together with volition bathe the infant with his correct mitt patch his mistress washes with her left hand. Turnbull witnessed the same sexual practice taboo amid the Mbuti Pygmies but points out that it is often a fourth dimension of conflicts because the men seek to have got affairs with other women.
Beautiful Baka adult woman holding her child, Cameroon
The initiation of the immature girls to the yéli-' (pronounced yéyi on the Lornié road) is different from that described past times Higgens. The women eventually larn to sing the yéli but without the intervention of Jengi . Instead, they are taught past times the elderberry women over a long menses of fourth dimension equally the yéli is hard to learn. Secret medicine known only past times elderberry women plays a vital role inwards the acquisition together with the performance of the ritual.
The immature women do play an of import role inwards the singing at d sorts of rituals. They bring together the adult women inwards dancing together with singing whenever they are ready.
The community itself exerts some force per unit of measurement area on the immature women to go singers, able to send on the traditions. The parents together with the elders, particularly the best dancers, play an of import role inwards teaching the children to sing together with dance. However, the success of a kid depends primarily on his or her ain efforts together with natural abilities. Often, after the even repast when plenty children are together together with it is non raining, they trip the low-cal fantastic toe together with sing for at to the lowest degree an hour.
The children, primarily girls, brand every sweat to perform well, although they do it with laughter together with amusement. The parents may apply some medicine (made with a leafage or a bark mixed with oil) to the skin, inwards incisions made on the lower back. This volition assist the kid later on to perform dances such equally the likàno which require that i moves his lower dorsum really quickly. Other medicines are used to assist the dancers together with singers perform good during rituals.-' However, in that location is no magic or formula that tin supersede the children's duty to larn past times mistaken together with practice.
Baka adult woman together with child
Customs together with practices
Physical appearance is really of import for the Baka. Therefore, the children betwixt the historic menses of 10 together with 20, manlike individual together with female, must create upward one's heed whether or non they volition have got their teeth cutting into a precipitous point. For the Baka, this sharpening of teeth is i of their most attractive characteristics.
Baka (people) pygmies with pointed teeth. Cameroon. Middle Africa
This is an of import determination together with the bulk of the youths take to have got the functioning done. Only manlike individual elders tin perform the functioning together with it rarely takes to a greater extent than than i day. The practise requires a large amount of courage equally it is extremely painful. With the assist of a knife together with a slice of metallic used equally a hammer, the elderberry human cuts only the Front teeth.
Baka miss girlfriend undergoing ritual to take away her teeth
During the operation, the immature individual keeps a slice of wood across the dorsum teeth to maintain his or her rima oris open. It is totally gratis of accuse together with in that location is no overt force per unit of measurement area from the elders to have got the functioning done. However, traditional stories claim that uncut teeth move inwards the nighttime patch the individual is asleep and
swallow excrement .
In improver to teeth cutting, scars on the forehead together with cheeks are made past times elderberry women for aesthetic reasons. Many women together with a few men take to have got such scars. It also takes a lot of courage equally it is a painful functioning The elderberry adult woman opens the pare with a razor blade together with inserts a selection of sure leaves inwards the opened upward injure to assure that the scars volition ever remain black. The men consider the women with marks far to a greater extent than attractive than those without . Today really few people have got their olfactory organ pierced equally their parents or grand-parents did. However, many women soundless pierce their ears. This is i time to a greater extent than a determination the immature men together with women must make. It is done non only for aesthetic reasons but also for practical ones. On their frequent line-fishing trips during the dry out season, the women insert a medicine inwards their pierced ears or olfactory organ which helps them uncovering fish.
Baka adult woman with a facial medicinal together with beautification tattoo
Jengi Ceremony
The Baka worship a wood spirit known equally Jengi, also called Djengi or Ejengi, whom they perceive equally both a parental figure together with guardian. Each successful hunt is followed past times a trip the low-cal fantastic toe of thanksgiving known equally the Luma, which is accompanied past times drumming together with polyphonic singing. One of the most of import traditional ceremonies is the Jengi ceremony, a long together with subway scheme rite of initiation which celebrates the boy's passage into adulthood.
Baka youths undergoing Jengi ceremony
Performance of Jengi thus creates an substitution network betwixt camps amid older males. When Jengi comes he stays inwards the wood close the village. The people pass many nights singing together with dancing, together with Jengi himself often dances" amid them. Every 2 or 3 nights, depending on the elders, the celebration pauses to give topographic point to i or to a greater extent than nights of rest. During the foremost few days after his arrival, Jengi, with the assist of the elders, puts a medicine pulverisation (made of bark) on the caput of everyone inwards the village. This ritual is also performed past times the elders at the kickoff of every year, however, using a different medicine, which gives the people protection together with strength.
After a few days a squad of hunters, followed past times a squad of porters, go hunting for a divulge of animals, usually including elephant, gorilla, wild boar, together with other little animals such equally the chimpanzee together with antelope. The elephant hunt is the greatest of hunts for the Baka. Although today the Baka only hunt this creature when a rifle is lent to them, it remains i of the most unsafe together with exciting experience for the hunters. Elephant
hunting, however, is speedily disappearing inwards Ndjibot (Baka town) equally no i is willing to hunt with a spear, together with guns large plenty to kill the elephant are hard to find. Jengi does non go with the hunters equally he sometime does inwards the Salapoumbé area. The ngàngà ritual, usually performed earlier an of import hunting trip, takes topographic point the solar daytime earlier the hunters leave.
The ngàngà diviner tells the hunters where to uncovering the animals together with how long the hunt volition last. Depending on which creature they hunt, the hunt may in conclusion from i to vi weeks. The initiation ritual takes topographic point shortly after they return. Sometimes Jengi, the elders, together with the initiates, with their mothers or wives, volition displace into the wood together with perform the ritual away from the village. At other times, it all happens part- inwards the hamlet together with partly inwards the wood nearby, equally described past times Higgens. However, the actual initiation ever takes topographic point inwards the forest.
Once the hunters are back, the mbonio (initiates) rest together inwards a large mongulu built exactly for them, inwards the village. The elders feed them with the nutrient that each one's woman parent or married adult woman has prepared. Jengi also makes frequent visits during the nighttime to give them medicines (which are known only to him) patch they sleep, to ensure that they are inwards goodness health, together with to ensure that in that location are no sorcerers who may kill someone together with then
blame Jengi . At dawn Jengi leaves for the wood with i or 2 elders who volition maintain him companionship close a fire. Jengi ever sleeps inwards the forest, away from the people. The morn earlier the initiation, Jmgi together with the people perform to a greater extent than dances patch the initiates rest inwards their mongulu together with are fed past times their relatives. Then the elders bring down the pilus together with eyebrows of every initiate inwards a specific shape together with cutting their eyelashes. They supersede their pants with a skirt made of raffia, attached inwards betwixt their legs, or with shorts. This is all that they may wear. Then they encompass their entire torso with dark palm fossil oil together with with ngele made with Jengi's saliva. The mbonio are right away getting anxious, equally Jengi volition shortly perform the initiation.
Baka Jengi ceremony
In early on afternoon" each mbonio , guarded past times an initiated man, is led to the foremost kpànga (long logs of virtually 3 meters long on which the initiates sit), facing Jengi's hidden dwelling solid inwards the forest. The raffia screens equally described past times Higgens are many, leading into the forest. The foremost screen, nearly 2 meters broad together with tali, is tied betwixt 2 trees at the border of the camp. As Jengi dances toward his home, the elders tell the mbonio to take the kpànga (there may live 3 or four) together with displace closer to Jengi 's home. Slowly, equally Jengi dances about them, they proceed to brand their way closer together with closer to his home. The initiates, dressed only inwards their raffia skirts or shorts, pour to a greater extent than palm fossil oil together with ngele over their bodies. This the the ngele is made with their mother's saliva. During the ritual, the women sing a divulge of songs. Then equally Jengi dances really close them, they sit down with their heads betwixt their knees. They must non facial expression at Jengi. Now the people are extremely afraid together with may fifty-fifty attempt to run away. Each guardian stays close the immature mbonio, he must protect together with maintain from fleeing because of their fear. Then the guardians inquire the mbonio to unopen their eyes together with speedily take each i inwards their arms together with run into Jengi's house. This is where the miracle of Jigi (as they telephone telephone it), which is carefully kept subway scheme from outsiders, takes place. Somehow Jengi kills the youths together with eats their livers. The women who were singing together with dancing, halt suddenly
Baka Jengi ceremony
Moments later Jengi gives the guardians little sticks of wood with a slice of raw liver on each one. These come upward from the initiates' livers, so in that location is i stick for each initiate. The guardians plough over them on to the mbonio's mothers, who mud topographic point the sticks upright into the ground. Each woman parent is responsible to guard her stick, together with past times moving a leafage on the meat, she keeps the flies from landing on the blood. Failure to do so may lawsuit inwards her boy non healing properly. After a Little while, the guardians get together these sticks together with render them carefully to Jengi , who volition utilization them to heal the initiates. It is of import that the guardians do non drib them. Jengi together with then repairs the bodies together with breathes into the initiates' nostrils to give them Me again. Because of his nifty power, no i feels whatsoever hurting for a divulge of days.
The newly initiated men rest with Jengi for a patch to verbalize with him. They are no longer afraid, equally Jengi tells them that they are right away his friends together with are nether his protection. They swear to never reveal to whatsoever non-initiate the subway scheme of Jengi together with the hidden initiation. When they render to the village, Jengi takes each initiate to his ain home. There he asks i of the parents, "Have 1 harmed your son?" When the individual responds "No," he moves on to the side past times side home. if the ceremony takes topographic point inwards the hamlet the mbonio never demand to slumber inwards the forest. However, if it takes topographic point at a wood camp, they may come upward dorsum only 2 or 3 weeks later.
Before the initiation, the hunters give their meat to the women who prepare it. On the next solar daytime of the ritual, the women serve the repast to Jengi together with everyone inwards the village. In improver to the meat, they prepare plantains together with other products they have got cultivated together with gathered. After they eat, the initiates take a some slice of meat together with claw it to the roofs of their houses. This teaches them self-control together with assures that they volition not
go gluttons.
Later, each initiate is given 2 medicine-coated strings which he volition wearable over each shoulder similar slings. Attached to i of these strings is a horn of an antelope or other little animal. It is cutting virtually 3 centimeters long together with is filled past times Jengi with a healing medicine made of ashes together with oil. When the newly initiated human feels hurting inwards his liver or stomach, caused past times the initiation, he may apply the medicine. The mbonio must
wearable the strings all the time, except when sleeping, until they autumn off on their own. When this happens, it volition hateful that he is completely healed. In improver to these strings, they may wearable modem necklaces together with bracelets bought at a nearby town. H5N1 few days after the initiation (some say the 5th day), the youths go dorsum to Jengi 's solid to have a little stick with leaves attached to it, which volition serve them equally healing medicine. They volition hang them inwards their mongulu for i day, after which they must render them to Jengi, who volition shroud the sticks inwards the wood inwards such a way that the pelting cannot touching on them.
The next solar daytime or some days later, the initiates go through a washing ceremony. They launder inwards H2O which already contains medicine that Jengi has added to it. When they destination washing, Jengi pulls them out of the H2O i past times one, with the assist of a little stick treated with medicine. After this washing ritual, each initiate exchanges his raffia skirt or shorts for a pair of pants belonging to an old initiate. Between rituals together with festivities, many people piece of work inwards their fields together with send on their daily responsibilities. If the people were at a wood camp, they right away render to the village.
Jengi ever appears covered inwards raffia together with although no adult woman tin ever consider him, the men can. To everyone, however, he is non a man, but the spirit of the forest. The identity of Jengi, along with many other aspects of the initiation, is a subway scheme that belong only to the Baka.
The festivities proceed for many to a greater extent than nights, patch Jengi comes to trip the low-cal fantastic toe together with to take aid of the healing youths. When the initiates consider him, they line upward earlier him. Every right away together with then, equally he dances, Jengi pushes together with shakes them violently. This is the in conclusion attempt to consider if t howdy are potent together with healing well. This ritual is repeated during many nights. As he gets ready to leave, he admonishes the parents to aid for the youths together with gives them recipes for healing medicine. Once Jengi is gone, the immature men experience that they belong fifty-fifty to a greater extent than to the wood together with part its deepest secrets
Baka women dancing
Medicine, midwifery and craftsmanship
The Baka, inwards improver to existence expert hunters, fishermen together with NTFP harvesters, are also good known for their
extraordinary skills inwards healing with traditional medicine, including midwifery, together with inwards their craftsmanship. These
skills are also marketable, together with could good supply the livelihood of many members of Baka communities.
Ironically, the main customers of Baka healing together with midwifery treatments are currently the Bantu who, despite often discriminating against the Baka, volition go to the Baka (albeit discreetly) to live cured of a broad range
of different illnesses. The Baka non only possess encyclopaedic cognition on medicinal plants together with potions,
they have got also go known nationally for their powers together with efficacy inwards healing.
In Cameroon, for example, stories propose that some Baka healers have, upon request, gone equally far equally the uppercase Yaoundé to heal patients. Interestingly, the Ministry of Health of Republic of Cameroon lately passed a neb stating that medicinal plants together with traditional medicine are to live accepted equally valid forms of handling exactly equally “modern” healthcare is. There is a national institute inwards Yaoundé, the Synergie Africaine Foundation, researching traditional medicine, which could live a valuable contact for Baka projects looking for collaboration, together with also inwards terms of finding out what form of markets mightiness arise both for medicinal plants
equally good equally for healing, together with how the Baka could meliorate do goodness from these. It is imperative, however, that intellectual belongings rights are ensured for the Baka, together with that sustainability criteria inwards harvesting medicinal products are met. It is also critical that whatsoever possible merchandise is fair, such that the Baka communities are the main beneficiaries, rather than the province or private companies.
The Baka are also good known for their skills inwards midwifery. Baka midwives are becoming increasingly good known for their powerfulness together with success inwards curing sterility, inducing fertility, inwards their powerfulness to both forbid together with terminate pregnancies, or fifty-fifty to exactly postpone or advance childbirth. Baka midwives are often visited
past times neighbouring Bantu women seeking assist inwards hard situations. Here, again, the Baka could larn to negotiate a fair wage for the valuable together with unique skills together with service that they provide.
As for handicrafts, the Baka are fantabulous together with fast weavers, together with are known to live able to create many
baskets inwards exactly i day. When asked whether they handle to sell these, i Baka community informed
us that in that location was ever a demand for baskets (especially when selling past times the roadside) but the challenge
for them was learning to negotiate fair prices. Currently, the Baka are selling their crafts at a really depression cost (the equivalent of i euro for i large carrying handbasket or case). In improver to helping the Baka larn how to negotiate meliorate prices, choice marketing channels for handicrafts could also live explored. The Baka have got the materials, the skills, the fourth dimension together with the interest; the only missing link is a profitable market.
Baka man
"Time Reference Among the Baka."
According to Kathleen Higgens " The Baka refer to themselves inwards fourth dimension equally wà-mbelio (the foremost people). They lived on Earth with Komba (God) together with they line this historic menses inwards their likàno (chantfables) equally s)k)- likàno (season-chantfables), which is the fourth dimension when the foremost legends were existence enacted.
Baka adult woman smiling
Today, when referring to events that took topographic point a long fourth dimension ago, the word mb3li (first state; a long the ago) is used. The Baka word for the is tie, but this tin also refer to "place, tiptop together with dimension." For example, it tin live used to say, "1 have got no topographic point to sit;" "this human is tall;" or "1 volition come upward some other time." However, the phrase "à bo maka tie" is ambiguous together with tin hateful either "at what topographic point or time?"
The Baka recognize 3 main climatic seasons, specifically related to hunting together with gathering. These are S)k)-mà "the rainy season", s)k)-yaka "the dry out season," together with s)k)- lànga "the brusk dry out season." The is also described past times what the flavor produces. For example, S)k)-bàndi (termite season) tin substitute for the term for dry out season. Or again, "ma na 1eka" is the bloom that the bees volition see when it grows after the March rain.
Baka family
They utilization words to line parts of the solar daytime such equally the early on morning, virtually 7 a-m., 8 a-m., midday, belatedly afternoon together with early on evening. Words for calendar week together with the days of the calendar week are borrowed from the neighboring Bantu. As inwards many languages, the word for calendar month (f3) is the same equally for moon. Although the Baka, similar other hunters together with gatherers, have got niggling involvement inwards the moon's activity, they recognize its cycles.
The Sun (bàko) is extremely of import to the Baka for keeping time. By describing the topographic point of the Sun from early on morn to sunrise, they have got a precise reference to time. Other fourth dimension words are Iàkpe (day), makàlà (today), dukpe (morning or tomorrow), ngili (yesterday), rnbilimbili (early moming), dakalà (evening), fitimà (late evening, at dark). The only word to refer to a vague, distant hereafter is wheel (one day). This is not
surprising for such a present-oriented society.
Baka people
One of import consideration inwards the life of the Baka is the gathering of honey, which is the favorite nutrient of the Baka together with fifty-fifty of Komba himself Consequently, the Baka dissever the solar daytime inwards tems of the bees' activities. There is a word to line the humming of the bees irrespective of fourth dimension (mùli), but it is also mutual to line the humming of the bees past times reference to the fourth dimension it occurs. H5N1 daily schedule may facial expression similar this: mâkelo , humming of the bees virtually 5-6 a-m., mongombe, humming of bees virtually 3-4 p.m., dakaà na moj3mb), humming of the bees virtually 5-6 p.m.
mbilimbili (6-7 am.) fitimà (6-10 p.m.)
njangà (8-12 a.m.) mb)li t3 to biti (11 p.m)
k3 to njangà (1 -2 p.m.) (lit: after/in/day) k3 to biti (1-2 am.)
dakalà (3-5 pm.) 'elembe lembe (3-5 a.m.)
Baka adult woman pounding cassava, Moloundou, Cameroun
Life After Death (Higgens, Kathleen. "A Purification Ceremony. - Some Funeral Rites Among Baka
Pygmies inwards Cameroon.")
When a Baka dies inwards the camp, she explains, the Baka moum together with present their sorrow through wailing together with crying. The wailing is done mainly past times the women. People from the army camp are sent inwards ail directions to telephone telephone inwards those members of the grouping soundless inwards the forest. Although traditionally dead bodies were left at the base of operations of the kungu: tree (known equally the tree for hiding things) together with covered with leaves, today sick people are taken to the hamlet to die. This way the authorities cannot accuse the Baka of murder.
Death evokes nifty fright of the departed spirit. The spouse of the deceased must take precautions to assure that the spirit volition non render to problem him or her. One of the ways to do this is to pigment about the eyes of the spouse, children together with parents of the deceased with white kaolin or charcoal.
The expiry of a kid particularly b gs fear. Rituals must live performed to protect the other children, particularly the immature ones. Often the slings made with the kio bark (put over the mother's left shoulder to send her infant on her correct hip) are beaten out of bark inwards monastic enjoin to reinforce their protective power. In addition, they may pigment the slings with charcoal together with white kaolin together with grade the children's foreheads' with charcoal for several days. Quite often the drive of expiry is attributed to disputes. Therefore, i causing problem may live defendant of murder. Peace together with unity, equally good equally avoiding undesirable noise, are thus of import amid the Baka.
Baka miss walking inwards the forest, Moloundou, Cameroun
The Baka believe that when a individual dies, his spirit leaves the torso but remains close the army camp for a few days. However, the spirits may render later on, either to assist hunters uncovering game or to problem the camp. In monastic enjoin to ensure a goodness hereafter human relationship with a spirit, a mourning menses of 3 nights of story-telling together with dancing is organized. The whole community is expected to participate at i fourth dimension or some other together with all must live done according to tradition to ensure that the spirit goes peacefully away together with does non render to problem the camp. The spirit observes from the wood nearby to consider that these ceremonies are done properly.
During the foremost nighttime everyone meets exterior the deceased's house. Often leaving the torso inwards the main room of the house, they tell traditional stories until morning. These stones have got the powerfulness to hypnotize animals for the hunters to kill. The only other fourth dimension these stories are told is inwards the evenings inwards their hunting camps inwards the wood . They are really entertaining together with often My with erotic details. The whole army camp joins inwards singing equally the stones also incorporate choruses. In betwixt stones, the buffoon trip the low-cal fantastic toe (mboàmboà ) is performed. This is a really comic dance, with the dancers, My clothed, calling out "comments of a suggestive nature together with making movements imitating the sexual act" (p. 10). In the midst of all the laughing, dancing together with singing, it is hoped that the mourners mightiness forget for an instant their sorrow. On the 2nd night, the people mightiness chose the
Bumi trip the low-cal fantastic toe together with on the tertiary the kose (also known equally jesa) dance. The spirits of the wood (the spirits of the foremost ancestors) are said to live acquaint inwards the dancers (men initiated into those spirits) during these nights. At the in conclusion dance, the kose spirit spits on everyone inwards monastic enjoin to give them strength. By that fourth dimension every fellow member of the army camp has come upward to the ceremony, at i fourth dimension or another, inwards monastic enjoin to delight the spirit.
Many Baka believe that after the expiry of the body, the spirit leaves for a meliorate place. Some claim that i tin hunt together with fish there. Others believe inwards heaven, equally the Catholic missionaries taught them. One tin line a dead individual past times maxim that "he has gone to Komba`s home," or "gone upward above," "gone to the large city," "gone downstream," "gone ahead," or "gone to hold off for me. "
The grave of the deceased is often dug behind his house. The people dig ledges across the 2 long sides of the grave inwards monastic enjoin to lay logs to a higher topographic point the torso later on. Higgens describes the burial equally follows:
"The body, wrapped inwards a novel stuff together with sometimes inwards a woven mat, is carried out
with the caput uncovered. H5N1 human who is non a unopen kin of the dead individual (that is,
non his son, daughters' hubby or sibling's son), stands inwards the grave, virtually 5 feet
deep, to have the body. The human lays the torso full-length facing upwards, then
puts the logs inwards topographic point together with covers them with large strips of bark which are handed
downward to him. He together with then tramples a layer of Earth downward hard, so that the rats volition not
swallow the body. He emerges from the grave together with mourners each take a handful of earth,
spit inwards it equally a in conclusion blessing, throw it inwards the grave, together with then tum dorsum to the solid of
mourning. There is no wailing circular the grave, no prayers together with no invocations. Other
males together with then encompass the grave with earth. The grave remains unmarked together with is soon
reclaimed past times brush.
Those who dig the grave together with send the torso are regarded equally ritually unclean. As
compensation, the woman parent of the deceased must give them chickens, spears or fire-
making kit bags. After the burial, they go downward to the Stream to cleanse themselves.
The dead person's mother's blood brother accompanies the grouping to betoken out different
leaves together with barks the men should utilization equally medicines. They together with then wash, together with rub these
medicines on themselves, or have got them sprinkled on their heads. (p. 1 1)"
Two or 3 days after the burial, the immediate topographic point unit of measurement of the deceased demand to purify themselves. Without drawing whatsoever attending to themselves, they leave of absence for the forest. Through a complex ritual of passing through an arch into the water, washing with some bark medicine together with standing inwards the fume made past times burning fifi (rnicrodesmis puberula. In today`s Baka orthography it is spelled pipi) leaves, the mourners cleanse themselves. The ritual is symbolic of their separation from the deceased. However this is non the destination of the separation ritual. H5N1 boy of the sis of the dead individual attaches a slice of the arch to his roof Years later, inwards a in conclusion separation celebration, he volition take this slice together with volition mix its remains with the pilus shaved from the heads of the nearest relatives.
After this begins the rite of transition. The mourners must larn to alive without this topographic point unit of measurement fellow member together with thus confront novel responsibilities. At this stage, people give the mourners gifts that symbolize nutrient acquisition together with grooming or the construction of wood shelters, thus acknowledging the changes inwards condition together with responsibilities the mourners experience through the expiry of a topographic point unit of measurement member. H5N1 adult woman may have leaves, firewood, or food, patch a human may have mat, a pike or other hunting weapons. The women are encouraged to take upward i time once to a greater extent than their of import roles of cooking together with edifice the topographic point unit of measurement camping ground hut. Ail this is done without whatsoever singing or dancing. If' the deceased is a man, it is upward to his senior brother's married adult woman to take the Pb inwards these rituals.
Nganga Ritual Dance
The term ngàngà cm hateful many things. Most importantly it refers to 2 ritual dances. One is used inwards grooming for a hunt, together with the other during a healing session. The term also refers to the people who have got been initiated into divination, either to read inwards fire, to heal people or to determine who committed violations. In his article, the report of the rite ngàngà is limited to the grooming trip the low-cal fantastic toe for a hunt together with to the selection of diviners who read inwards fire.
After a day's work, patch the women prepare the even repast together with the men prepare themselves together with their weapons for a hunt, immature boys play the "male" drum, keeping the wà beat to denote to all the Baka nearby the ngànga dance. After the meal, an elderberry asks a immature hunter to start the ngàngà fire. The hunter together with then enters a few selected houses together with collects from their fires pieces of burning wood with which he volition start the ngàngà fire.
The people start singing, together with equally the nighttime progresses they add together 2 other drums to brand a total of three. These are the manlike individual drum (moko), the smaller woman individual drum (wose) together with the kid drum (yande ), smaller yet. People shape a huge circle inwards which each historic menses grouping stays together about the tire. The drums are role of the circle: those who sing soprano are on the right, together with those who sing alto are on the left of the drums. The infinite betwixt the sack together with the people is kept for the dancers. The hunters brand their appearance. The drums together with the singing take on novel Me equally the men participate. At this stage, other participants from neighboring camps task their historic menses groups about the circle. As long equally non-Baka neighbors are acquaint many people rest home, together with the singing together with dancing lack enthusiasm. Once they leave, the Baka sing insults at them together with accuse them of annoying the forest.
When it is nighttime together with no i but the Baka are present, dancing together with singing inwards ail sorts of canons take place. Then the hunters together with other immature men acquire into the circle to trip the low-cal fantastic toe inwards harmony with i another. Dressed with leaves fixed to their lower backs together with hitting the ground equally they brand little steps, they walk behind each other patch going about the fire. Everyone looks at the fire. Later on inwards the night, the dancers, touching on the sack with their hands together with and then touching on their foreheads. This they do many times patch making loud noises. At the same fourth dimension the singing of the women intensifies. After a few minutes, the men start dancing behind each other, making a circle about the fire. Sometimes a adult woman volition speak to the forest, telling it to weaken together with to live annoyed past times the singing. Slowly, people start retiring to their huts, together with shortly only the drums are heard inwards the night. When people are gone, the Pb dancer stops dancing together with commands the drums to stop.
Baka adult woman dancing
At virtually 10 p.m. the same dancer starts singing i time to a greater extent than together with urges every i to come upward dorsum to the fire. Soon every i is dorsum inwards a circle. The dancer sits on the ground a few inches from the sack together with stares into it. Other ngàngà (people who read the fire) bring together him close the fire. They consider the animals the hunters volition kill together with all the dangers they volition encounter. After reading inwards the sack for a while, the ngàngà hash out what they have got seen.
Meanwhile, all the others trip the low-cal fantastic toe together with sing intensely equally they come upward to the climax of the ceremony. When the ngàngà have got come upward to a consensus on what the sack reveals, the Pb dancer asks every i to halt together with listen. Then inwards a melodious vocalization he tells the story of what he has seen. He circles the sack telling virtually his "vision," patch looking into the sack to uncovering the most revealing place. His story sounds were this: "People, people, hear the forest. The wood wants to do goodness things. 1 consider animals, all sorts of animals inwards the forest.. ." As he tells his story every i has a role to play inwards it. Some dance, some sing, others response to the story past times maxim "heo," patch other ngàngà participate inwards the telling of the story. They hash out some of the specifics of the hunt.
After this, some proceed to trip the low-cal fantastic toe patch others go to their huts. As they leave, they touching on the embers of the sack with the correct hands together with grade their foreheads. They also convey a slice of ember to their ain fires inwards their huts. Then at 5 a.m., the people start singing together with dancing i time to a greater extent than until the hunters leave of absence at virtually 7 a.m.
Baka adult woman braiding the pilus of a nursing mother, Moloundou, Cameroun
Baka In Gabon
In Gabon, they shape a little community (of virtually 500 individuals) inwards the North, together with they are surrounded past times the Fang population, the largest community inwards Gabon, with whom they have got frequent contacts. They are, for this reason, bilingual, speaking Fang equally good equally Baka from their earliest years. Fang, similar the balance of the languages of Gabonese Republic (estimated at 50), is a Bantu language, whereas Baka is an Ubangian language. Traditionally, the Baka are hunter-gatherers together with have got a nomadic lifestyle.
The Baka Pygmies, inwards Gabon, are unusual inwards that they speak an Ubangian linguistic communication inwards an essentially Bantu environment. This little community has successfully maintained their linguistic communication despite force per unit of measurement area from Fang, the linguistic communication of i of the country’s bulk ethnic groups. However, authorities imposed sedentarization policies have got forced this population to abandon their nomadic lifestyle, a consequential alter which has of import repercussions for the community equally a whole.
Baka woman
Nowadays, fifty-fifty if they uncovering the volume of what they demand for subsistence inwards the forest, their province of affairs is changing, equally the Baka are becoming gradually sedentarized, leading them to abandon their ain linguistic communication for Fang. The Baka are traditionally hunter-gatherers, finding soundless the bulk of their subsistence inwards the forest. In the past, the Baka were nomads, but the authorities policy of sedentarization has forced them to settle inwards a hamlet together with build clay houses similar to those of the Fang. The hamlet has go together with then the topographic point to systematically render to after excursions to the forest, taking the topographic point of the wood camps of the past. Not only do the Baka pass less fourth dimension inwards the forest, but they don’t move equally far into the wood equally they used to and, because of this, are starting to lose a nifty bargain of the vocabulary related to tree species found inwards the primary forest. In the same way, they are no longer genuinely inwards a topographic point to administer the sort of aid requiring this type of canopy, together with hither sure practices are disappearing.
New customs are existence established; the Baka tend to alive similar the villagers together with aspire to stuff comfort. They are thus becoming to a greater extent than together with to a greater extent than subject on paid work, which way spending to a greater extent than together with to a greater extent than fourth dimension inwards the companionship of Fang, speaking the linguistic communication of their neighbors to the detriment of their own. The Baka have got established a few plantations, together with the changes inwards their diet are non ever adapted to their
organism. Idleness is gaining ground because of the increasing distance of the forest, together with alcohol dependence is becoming frequent inwards some villages. All the changes have got brought virtually novel diseases, together with according to Hélène Nzé, to a greater extent than together with to a greater extent than Baka youths are dying prematurely, barely reaching their thirties
Factors contributing to endangerment
Following the various criteria established past times UNESCO, it is clear that Baka is an endangered language; too the intergenerational linguistic communication transmission, together with the proportion of speakers with abide by to the total population, all other values established for the other criteria are weak or non-existent. No authorities policy has been topographic point into topographic point for the preservation of the l or so Gabonese languages, though for the instance of
Baka, the utilization of the linguistic communication remains vital within their ain communities. In addition, I believe that it is necessary to take leverage from the existing potent points to strengthen those weak factors which could otherwise prove deadly to linguistic communication transmission, for representative the mental attitude of the speakers towards their ain language.
Social status
The Baka are often looked downward upon past times the Fang. The latter do non consider themselves merely equally the bosses of the Pygmies equally they say - when they telephone telephone on them, equally they often do, to clear their fields - but equally their owners. Even if behind this notion nosotros tin also consider an thought of responsibleness towards the Baka, it is soundless the instance that the Fang consider them equally their property, them equally good equally their stuff goods. And equally I have got already mentioned, some people have got gone so far equally to say that they are non fifty-fifty human beings. The Fang have got successfully convinced the Baka that they are inferior to them, due to the fact that they are non schooled together with thus uneducated.
In addition, it is necessary to maintain inwards heed that the Fang brand upward to a greater extent than than a 5th of the population inwards Gabon, together with are thus i of the bulk ethnicities of the country; they also are strongly represented inwards Cameroon, their province of origin. The Baka consider the Fang equally inferior to Whites.
There is also, inwards their minds, a social hierarchy inwards which Whites are placed at the highest level, after which come upward the Fang, together with and then they themselves, the Baka, at the really bottom. This is why, it turns out to be
prestigious for the Baka to have a White individual inwards their home, together with fifty-fifty to a greater extent than so to take role inwards scientific research.
The bulk of the Baka, thus persuaded of their inferiority, are proud to present that they tin speak Fang. They seek past times whatsoever way to gain access to a higher social status, notably through inter-ethnic marriage. In Gabon, a human wishing to get married a adult woman must topographic point together a dowry, inwards the shape of compensation for the lost productivity of the bride’s family.
However, it turns out that the Fang dowry is the highest of all ethnic groups inwards Gabon, according to Mayer (2002). It is thus really hard for a immature human to get together a sufficiently large sum, together with if he’s keen to get married quickly, he volition “fall back” together with seek a Baka wife, because the dowry is to a greater extent than often than non about x times less than what it would live for a Fang wife.
Baka pygmy
The Fang human is happy with his lot, but so is his Baka wife, who together with then has access to a so-called “superior” social status, equally her children volition too. The Baka together with the Fang are 2 patrilineal societies, together with so the children from such mixed union belong to the father’s Fang lineage. The woman parent does non consider thus why she should speak Baka with her children, together with inwards to a greater extent than than one-half the cases I noted that the manlike individual parent inwards fact forbids his married adult woman from speaking her woman parent natural language to her children, who do non fifty-fifty have got a Baka topographic point unit of measurement name. These
children are lost speakers for Baka, since, fifty-fifty if they are able to empathise normal conversation together with limited themselves inwards this language, they genuinely do not, thereby highlighting that they belong to the “superior” lineage of the Fang.
source:http://www.iwgia.org/iwgia_files_publications_files/0583_informe_13_eb_opt.pdf
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp03/MQ26821.pdf
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