Who are the Baka Pygmies?
For the Baka, the forest is mother, father and guardian and music is an intrinsic part of their lives. They have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the forest and its products, including the healing power of the plants and as such have become guardians of this huge natural pharmacy. For others, including the international logging companies, it is a resource to be exploited and the Baka are being unceremoniously pushed out as part of this conflict of interests. Baka culture is totally dependent on their continued unrestricted access to the rainforest and it seems a travesty that the Baka, one of the few remaining peoples living a truly ancient life, in touch with nature and their planet which they revere, are being squeezed out of their ancient forests and denied their lifestyle. In a recent BBC World Service interview with Mbeh, one of the Baka guitarists, he said: “We are born and grew up in the forest; we do everything in the forest, gathering, hunting and fishing. Now where d
For the Baka, the forest is mother, father and guardian and music is an intrinsic part of their lives. They have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the forest and its products, including the healing power of the plants and as such have become guardians of this huge natural pharmacy. For others, including the international logging companies, it is a resource to be exploited and the Baka are being unceremoniously pushed out as part of this conflict of interests. Baka culture is totally dependent on their continued unrestricted access to the rainforest and it seems a travesty that the Baka, one of the few remaining peoples living a truly ancient life, in touch with nature and their planet which they revere, are being squeezed out of their ancient forests and denied their lifestyle. In a recent BBC World Service interview with Mbeh, one of the Baka guitarists, he said: “We are born and grew up in the forest; we do everything in the forest, gathering, hunting and fishing. Now where d
