A people of hunters and gatherers, Baka Pygmies live in the rain forest of Cameroon, Gabon and Congo, together with various ethnic groups of Bantu farmers, with whom they exchange goods and have a symbiotic relationship from time immemorial. Like the other groups of African Pygmies (BaKola, Aka, BaBongo, BaMbuti, BaTwa, etc.), Baka Pygmies are traditionally nomadic, even though they are undergoing a process of sedentariness under the influence of multiple factors. The first of these factors is massive deforestation, which deprives the Pygmies of the natural and symbolic resources essential for their biological and cultural survival...
 Introduction about Baka Pygmies (6 photos)
Baka pygmies live traditionally in huts called mongulu. They are typically shaped one-family houses made of branches and leaves and almost always built by women... Pygmy camps and huts in the rainforest (7 photos)
Within the Baka Pygmy culture, hunting is one of the most important activities, not only for its role in providing food (Baka Pygmies of Cameroon live mainly by gathering and fishing), but above all for the symbolic meanings and the prestige traditionally attached to it... Pygmy hunters, hunting weapons and animals hunted by Baka Pygmies (8 photos)
Portraits of Baka men, women and children during their daily activities in the rainforest of Cameroon... Baka men (7 photos) Baka women (8 photos) Baka children (9 photos)
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Looking for food in the forest is one of the most important activities for the survival of the group. The products gathered by Pygmies (yam, fruit, mushrooms, etc.) are basically vegetables, but in some seasons of the year it is also possible to find small animals, such as termites and caterpillars... Food gathering in the rainforest (7 photos)
Dam fishing, a prevalently female activity, is the most popular fishing technique used by Baka Pygmies, especially during dry seasons, when the water level is low and it is easier to drain the streams and find fish in the mud... Pygmy women fishing in the rainforest streams (8 photos)
Wild game cooking, mincing of vegetables, palm oil and manioc preparation... Food preparation (8 photos)
Another typical Pygmy women's activity is making panniers, mattings and baskets. They use various vegetable materials for numerous types of weaves according to the use of the different models of baskets which are usually made... Material culture (7 photos)
The secrets surrounding the rite of initiation and the Spirit of the Forest are deemed inviolable by all the Pygmies. Baka men, the only holders of Pygmies' initiation knowledge, are evasive and mysterious when they are asked about this subject. They react this way not only with women and children but also with the other populations living in the same area. The men's initiation lasts several days in a hidden place in the depths of the forest... Baka Pygmies rite of initiation to the Spirit of the Forest (7 photos)
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The music is present in almost all Pygmies' life moments, from healing to initiation rituals, from traditional tales to group games like water drums, from hunting propitiating songs to entertainment moments. Not only is every basic moment in a Pygmy's life marked from birth till death by rituals where music and dance play an irreplaceable role, but daily life itself is often accompanied by musical events and attitudes... Baka Pygmies music and musical instruments (10 photos)
All the important Baka Pygmies rituals, like men's initiation or funeral rites, are accompanied by music and traditional dances. There are many types of these dances and every part of the forest has its own, which are performed exclusively by skilled dancers, who often have undergone a specific initiation... Traditional dances (recreational and ritual) of Baka Pygmies (7 photos)
Images of the African rain forest (Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea): nature and landscapes... African rainforest (8 photos)
Images of rivers, streams, lakes and waterfalls of the rain forest. Crossing of rivers on pirogues and fish gathering... Rainforest rivers and lakes (8 photos)
Images of rain forest animals (mammals and birds): buffaloes, chimpanzees, monkeys, leopards, sitatunga, hippos... Rainforest mammals and birds (8 photos)
Images of rain forest animals (reptiles and invertebrates): snakes, turtles, giant lizards, spiders, termites, caterpillars... Rainforest reptiles and invertebrates (7 photos)
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