Entry Six

Chapter 5

This chapter illustrates one of the greatest cognitional values of the BaMbuti, the need for togetherness and cooperation. This is illustrated and discussed throughout the whole chapter. Because of their host environment, the forest, the BaMbuti view cooperation as necessary for survival. Based on this perception, there is an expectation that everyone is to act a certain way. If anyone acts differently, it is viewed very negatively. All of the BaMbuti are to hunt together as a group (97), to contribute to the molimo (98), and to otherwise live in the way dictated by their culture.

In this chapter, Cephu acts against this expectation of unity by refusing to participate in the molimo basket. He puts his net in front of the others, and refers to his camp as separate from the rest. These actions arouse everyone’s anger, and they respond by ignoring Cephu, refusing to give him a seat, and referring to him as an “animal”. This treatment is effective because it is based on cultural conceptions of what it means to be a part of the BaMbuti. There is an argument but eventually Cephu, threated with excommunication from the group, and with losing his role of chief of his band (which he needed to survive), is put back into his place and forced to give food to the rest of the group.

Other interesting cultural conceptions discussed in this chapter include the Pygmies’ love for fire (regarded as a precious gift of the forest that they offer back acknowledging their debt and dependence) (98), and their bad treatment of animals (viewed as gifts from the forest to avoid starvation) (101). This chapter also introduces the BaMbuti form of expression of imitation and dance. Often before a hunt, men and women sing a hunting song and imitate the animals they hope to catch (96). In telling the story of the leopard, they act out its movements. This acting is a form of expression and cultural norm for the BaMbuti.

Brief Paragraph:

This chapter relates to the theory of Structuralism. Structuralism presents culture as a “set of tools that allow human beings to adapt to the environment in order to eat, survive, and propagate.” The need for cooperation has become a cultural value to the Pygmies, but it was created so that they could survive in their environment.