Across the equatorial forests of Central Africa, the Baka, Aka, Bagyéli and Bakola maintain a way of life closely tied to the forest. These itinerant hunter-gatherers depend on its plants, animals and waterways for food and medicine, while the forest also holds a central place in their spiritual life.
Children learn through observation and participation, from hunting and gathering wild honey to recognizing healing plants. Oral traditions, polyphonic songs and ceremonies pass knowledge between generations, while Jengui, the spirit of the forest, remains central to important rituals.
In Cameroon, deforestation, forced settlement, plantations and restrictions on forest access are disrupting traditional ways of life. Some communities have lost ancestral land and access to resources, affecting both their subsistence and the transmission of knowledge.
Discover the traditions and changing lives of Central Africa’s forest peoples.
Documentary: Little People
Directed by: Patrick Bernard and Ken Ung
Production: Anako Foundation (2023)
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