Outside of specific institutions and contexts, you’ll probably not find much about African Rainforest Hunter-Gatherers or Forest People of Central Africa in regular African history books, except may be as players in some bigger political event. This speaks to just how much the people and their history have been neglected. What is known about them usually references their skill as hunters and their near encyclopedic knowledge of their forest home. Also music. Forest People are also known worldwide for their musical skill. Matter of fact, we spent some time last year talking about liquindi or water drumming and polyphonic singing, two things they are renown for.
Folklore, however, is replete with stories of encounters between them and the wider African populations. As we talked about last week, because they often involve harmful stereotypes, these encounters had and continue to have negative impact on Forest People.
In today’s episode, we’ll read one of those stories.
Sound Effects
Batwa Pigmy Dances from Dark Rapture by Pigmy Orchestra (Please note that “Pigmy” or “Pygmy” are outdated terms to refer to Africa’s Forest People.)
Royal Watusi Drums Part 3 from Dark Rapture by Pigmy Orchestra.
More Stuff
Meanwhile…
You already know “The Watkins Book of African Folklore” or the “Mythological Africans Book”, is now available for preorder! Click image for preordering options!
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