Pygmy - a resident of the equatorial forests of Africa

pygmy - is representative of one of the ethnic groups living in the equatorial forests of Africa.It is a word of Greek origin and means "a man the size of a fist."This name is justified when you consider the average height of representatives of these tribes.Find out who the pygmies in Africa and how they differ from other indigenous peoples of the hottest continent.

Who are the pygmies?

These tribes live in the equatorial forests of Africa, near the rivers of Congo, Ituri and Ogooue.Total pygmies there are about 80 thousand, half of whom live near the banks of the Ituri.Growth of the representatives of these tribes varies from 140 to 150 cm. The color of their skin somewhat atypical for Africans, because it is their slightly lighter golden-brown.Pygmies even have their own national dress.So, men wear fur or leather belt with a small apron made of wood, the front and rear - a small bunch of leaves.Women are less fortunate, often they have only aprons.

House

Structures in which live representatives of the people, made of twigs and leaves, all bonding clay.Ironically, the construction and repair of huts here - is to take care of women.The man, having decided to build a new home, should go to the elder for permission.If Elder agrees, he sends his visitor nyombikari - a bamboo stick with a peg on the end.It is through this device will outline the borders of a future home.This deals with a man, all other worries on construction borne by women.

Lifestyle

typical pygmy - forest is a nomad who can not stay long in one place.The representatives of these tribes live in one place for less than a year until around their village has a game.When the animals are not frightened to an end, the nomads are shot in search of a new home.There is another reason why people often move to a new location.Any pygmy - is an extremely superstitious man.Therefore, the whole family if one member of his death, migrate, suggesting that the forest does not want at this point someone lived.The deceased was buried in his cabin, arrange a wake, and the next morning all settlement goes deep into the forest to build a new village.

Mining

Eat Pygmies by giving them the woods.Therefore, early in the morning the woman of the tribe go there to restock.On the way, they collect all the edible berries and since finishing caterpillars that had fed every kindred pygmy.It is a well-established tradition, according to which the main earner in the family is a woman.

Total

Pygmies are accustomed to the traditions of his life, which were established centuries.Despite the fact that the state government is trying to teach them more civilized life, cultivating the land and settled existence, they remain far from this.Pygmies, photo which makes many researchers who study their customs, waive any innovations in their everyday life and continue to do what their ancestors were engaged for many centuries.