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Light360 · 05-09-2006, 08:34 PM

Forest pygmies heed spirit world
The spirit of the forest remains an important force for Cameroon's pygmy people, even though traditional ways are changing, reports Naomi Wellings of the BBC World Service Heart and Soul programme.

In the dense forest of southern Cameroon, Chief Arweh Richard is the final arbiter for his extended family of around 70 people.
Every evening he watches affectionately as the young men play football together in front of the camp, and he sometimes joins in, too.

He helps his wife Gabba as she prepares the evening meal of bushmeat and boiled cassava.

Rather than ruling from an obviously elevated position, the chief seems to understand how inter-connected these people are, both with each other, and with their physical surroundings.

Pygmies are among the few remaining hunter-gatherer peoples in Africa.

Force
But whereas some pygmies hunt with a spear or with arrows, Chief Arweh and his fellow men set traps which they regularly inspect.

Much of the religious ceremony which traditionally preceded hunting continues, in spite of the fact that their approach is less dangerous now.

Part of that ceremony involves the rite of a wife praying for her husband's safety, as she smears some ground bark on to his forehead.

The forest is to be respected - it is not simply a resource, it's seen as a force which has sustained generations of pygmies.

The force within the forest is called Agengi, the god of pygmies everywhere.

Whether they are in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, or here in Cameroon, Chief Arweh tells me they can come to the forest and call out to Agengi and he will reply to them.

There are different reasons why people might want to do that.

Power
While I was staying in the village, the chief was frustrated that his other role as the settlement's traditional healer was these days being neglected.

"People don't come for healing any more," he said.

"I used to have lots of people coming for medicine and my treatment. I was well known for healing people the doctors couldn't." But in visiting the forest and calling out to Agengi - making loud whooping noises - Chief Arweh and his father Antoine and son Yamma, believe they connect with their god.

After they have made their call, a startling clapping sound seems to come out of the leaves all around us.

This, I'm told, is Agengi and simply being with him means that some of his power rubs off on you.

Later in the week, when Chief Arweh receives two visitors seeking traditional remedies for their families' illnesses, he tells me Agengi has heard his cry and given him back his role in the community.

Chief Arweh recognises that the forest not only provides for its people physically with creatures and plants for food, but its god determines their health and well-being in every way.

This symbiotic relationship between the forest surroundings and the forest dwellers, is summed up in a popular phrase the chief told me: "You can take the pygmy man out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the pygmy man."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4978034.stm

Oh yeah......
Bob Marley, Concrete Jungle

No sun will shine in my day today; (no sun will shine)
The high yellow moon won't come out to play:
(that high yellow moon won't come out to play)
I said (darkness) darkness has covered my light,
(and the stage) And has changed my day into night, yeah.
Where is the love to be found? (oo-ooh-ooh)
Won't someone tell me?
'Cause my (sweet life) life must be somewhere to be found -
(must be somewhere for me)
Instead of concrete jungle (jungle!)
Where the living is harder (concrete, jungle!).

Concrete jungle (jungle!):
Man you got to do your (concrete, jungle!) best. Wo-ooh, yeah.

No chains around my feet,
But I'm not free, oh-ooh!
I know I am bound here in captivity;
G'yeah, now - (never, know) I've never known happiness;
(never, know) I've never known what sweet caress is -
Still, I'll be always laughing like a clown;
Won't someone help me? 'Cause I (sweet life) -
I've got to pick myself from off the ground
(must be somewhere for me), he-yeah! -
In this a concrete jungle (jungle!):
I said, what do you got for me (concrete, jungle!) now, o-oh!
Concrete jungle (la la-la!), ah, won't you let me be (concrete, jungle!), now.
Hey! Oh, now!

I said that life (sweet life) - it must be somewhere to be found
(must be somewhere for me)
Oh, instead of concrete jungle (jungle!) - illusion (concrete, jungle!) -
confusion (confusion). (concrete, jungle!) Eh!

Concrete jungle (jungle!): baby, you've got it in.
Concrete jungle (concrete,jungle!), now. Eh!
Concrete jungle (jungle!).

What do you got for me (concrete,jungle!), now?

Empressdududahlin · 05-09-2006, 11:23 PM

lawd... thank you for posting this thread, because I was going to bring a similar article in here about some African and Aborigne cultures that speak of their traditions being lost in the midst of the changes especially the effects of the historical colonization that still linger in societies where traditional medicine, rituals and practices used to be the main "go to" when in need.

Looking at certain lines of this article I see why "nature" is speaking to us in ways through storms, sporadic up n' down changes in weather and even possibly through movement of the earth...

Much of the religious ceremony which traditionally preceded hunting continues, in spite of the fact that their approach is less dangerous now.

Part of that ceremony involves the rite of a wife praying for her husband's safety, as she smears some ground bark on to his forehead.

The forest is to be respected - it is not simply a resource, it's seen as a force which has sustained generations of pygmies.

The force within the forest is called Agengi, the god of pygmies everywhere.

Whether they are in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, or here in Cameroon, Chief Arweh tells me they can come to the forest and call out to Agengi and he will reply to them.

There are different reasons why people might want to do that.

and...

"People don't come for healing any more," he said.

"I used to have lots of people coming for medicine and my treatment. I was well known for healing people the doctors couldn't." But in visiting the forest and calling out to Agengi - making loud whooping noises - Chief Arweh and his father Antoine and son Yamma, believe they connect with their god.

After they have made their call, a startling clapping sound seems to come out of the leaves all around us.

This, I'm told, is Agengi and simply being with him means that some of his power rubs off on you.

Later in the week, when Chief Arweh receives two visitors seeking traditional remedies for their families' illnesses, he tells me Agengi has heard his cry and given him back his role in the community.

Chief Arweh recognises that the forest not only provides for its people physically with creatures and plants for food, but its god determines their health and well-being in every way.

I wish we as a people can connect with nature on a spiritual level, WE ARE NOT DISCONNECTED WITH NATURE... and must realize how much we should respect it through our daily living and meditations...

Otorongo · 05-10-2006, 12:18 AM

Just a side note. The Mbuti and Twa consider the greek term pygmie very disrespectful

Light360 · 05-10-2006, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Ancientwomyn

lawd... thank you for posting this thread, because I was going to bring a similar article in here about some African and Aborigne cultures that speak of their traditions being lost in the midst of the changes especially the effects of the historical colonization that still linger in societies where traditional medicine, rituals and practices used to be the main "go to" when in need.

Looking at certain lines of this article I see why "nature" is speaking to us in ways through storms, sporadic up n' down changes in weather and even possibly through movement of the earth...

and...

I wish we as a people can connect with nature on a spiritual level, WE ARE NOT DISCONNECTED WITH NATURE... and must realize how much we should respect it through our daily living and meditations...

Indeed....

Light360 · 05-10-2006, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Otorongo

Just a side note. The Mbuti and Twa consider the greek term pygmie very disrespectful

Well, I can't believe this but I have to agree with you.....

Pygmie is a derogotory moniker....This is a european word derogatory in nature as all other names given to the people in Africa.

The so-called Pygmies call them self "Baka" (people of the African rain forest) which means "Soldier" or Worrier. BA-KA are both very ancient Kemetic words that has to do with the spirit and soul and further evidence of the origins of this very ancient African people. The Baka are known as "The Old Ones" by all other so-called Africans.

BacchanalDiva · 05-10-2006, 11:22 AM

QOS & AW, the two of you would love Of Water and the Spirit by Malidoma Patrice Some -excellent book and true story (thanks Elq). He speaks specifically about the role of Ritual, Nature, Magic and Initiation in today's world. He also goes around lecturing on the same. I saw he was one of the speakers at one of the seminars Soca Soljah posted once, should really try to catch him sometime.

Light360 · 05-10-2006, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by Ancientwomyn

lawd... thank you for posting this thread, because I was going to bring a similar article in here about some African and Aborigne cultures that speak of their traditions being lost in the midst of the changes especially the effects of the historical colonization that still linger in societies where traditional medicine, rituals and practices used to be the main "go to" when in need.

Btw...can you post that article? Let's learn some more about the African and Aborigne cultures. You started a thread in the Talk forum but let's revive it again.

Light360 · 05-10-2006, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by BacchanalDiva

QOS & AW, the two of you would love Of Water and the Spirit by Malidoma Patrice Some -excellent book and true story (thanks Elq). He speaks specifically about the role of Ritual, Nature, Magic and Initiation in today's world. He also goes around lecturing on the same. I saw he was one of the speakers at one of the seminars Soca Soljah posted once, should really try to catch him sometime.

Thank BD and Elq, I'll check it out.

Conscious · 05-10-2006, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by Queen of Sanity

Well, I can't believe this but I have to agree with you.....

Pygmie is a derogotory moniker....This is a european word derogatory in nature as all other names given to the people in Africa.

The so-called Pygmies call them self "Baka" (people of the African rain forest) which means "Soldier" or Worrier. BA-KA are both very ancient Kemetic words that has to do with the spirit and soul and further evidence of the origins of this very ancient African people. The Baka are known as "The Old Ones" by all other so-called Africans.

It was only a matter of time before you 2 would see eye to eye. You know you would probably have cute kids.

BacchanalDiva · 05-10-2006, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by Conscious

It was only a matter of time before you 2 would see eye to eye. You know you would probably have cute kids (if they didnt have big pink lips and orange afros).

sorry, couldn't resist

I'm gonna go the hell

Conscious · 05-10-2006, 12:47 PM

sorry, couldn't resist

I'm gonna go the hell

Oh No you had to go threre

Cooolbreeeze · 05-10-2006, 12:51 PM

i was listening to BBC radio the other morning and heard this report, the woman was there in the forest and the asking a lot of questions about Agengi. i thought it was a good peice, brining to light the beleives of a people that is relatively unkown to the world.

Light360 · 05-10-2006, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by Conscious

It was only a matter of time before you 2 would see eye to eye. You know you would probably have cute kids.

Oh hush....

Light360 · 05-10-2006, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by Cooolbreeeze

i was listening to BBC radio the other morning and heard this report, the woman was there in the forest and the asking a lot of questions about Agengi. i thought it was a good peice, brining to light the beleives of a people that is relatively unkown to the world.

Kewl.

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05-10-2006, 12:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
Otorongo Salsero de pura cepa Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 10,473 Credits: 715	Just a side note. The Mbuti and Twa consider the greek term pygmie very disrespectful

05-10-2006, 11:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
BacchanalDiva Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: in PEACE & HARMONY Posts: 10,030 Credits: 56,874	QOS & AW, the two of you would love Of Water and the Spirit by Malidoma Patrice Some -excellent book and true story (thanks Elq). He speaks specifically about the role of Ritual, Nature, Magic and Initiation in today's world. He also goes around lecturing on the same. I saw he was one of the speakers at one of the seminars Soca Soljah posted once, should really try to catch him sometime.

05-10-2006, 12:47 PM	#11 (permalink)
Conscious SRB MCL Hornaman Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brooklyn/Orlando Posts: 6,304 Credits: 15,903	sorry, couldn't resist I'm gonna go the hell Oh No you had to go threre

05-10-2006, 12:51 PM	#12 (permalink)
Cooolbreeeze Surviving Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: all bout Posts: 566 Credits: 149	i was listening to BBC radio the other morning and heard this report, the woman was there in the forest and the asking a lot of questions about Agengi. i thought it was a good peice, brining to light the beleives of a people that is relatively unkown to the world.

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