BamButi

= Bambuti Pygmies of the Congo =

The Bambuti live in the rain forests surrounding the Rwe nzori Mountains in Uganda. The Bambuti have a deep connection to the forest and posses a deep understanding of it. The forest dominates their livelihood. They live Bantu huts, just another way of showing their harmony with nature. The women prepare the food, fix the huts and find water while it is the job of the men to hunt. It is traditional to hunt with the bow and arrow but over the centuries net trapping has become popular. It is forbidden for them to kill more than what they need and to do so is a crime. Private matters are no so important, all decisions are made in a consensus. The community must maintain the law and order. The Bambuti live in clans.
 * Relationships with Natural World**

Marriage is very important to the Bambuti and it is done through "sister exchange" where the bridegroom arranges for one of the females in is clan to a man in his brides clan. When girls come of age they are taken to a secluded location were they are taught about sex and motherhood by a respected female of the clan. This practice is called //elima// and is looked back at by the females as a time of great fun.
 * Sacred themes, Pratices and Space**

The Bambuti believe in several gods. The most important god to the Bambuti is Khonvoum, a god of hunting that wilds a bow made of two snakes that to mortals like a rainbow.. Every sunset Khonvoum gathers stars and throws them into the sun so that it is able to shine the next day. Khonvoum made mankind out of clay, different colors for different people. He occasionally contacts mortals through Gor who is a thunder god. Besides Khonvoum there are several other Gods such as Arbati a lunar deity and the Sky father and Tore who creates animals that the Bambuti Hunt. Humans stole fire from Tore and Tore tried to chase them but could not keep up. As punishment he decreed all humans will someday die and became the death god.
 * Gods**




 * Works cited**

http://www.uganda-visit-and-travel-guide.com/batwa-bambuti.html http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/cultures_of_world/64244 http://www.2008.horyzonty.sk/en/photoexhibition-bambuti.php http://www.servinghistory.com/topics/Bambuti_mythology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:R%C3%A9gion_Ituri_R%C3%A9publique_d%C3%A9mocratique_du_Congo.png Experiencing the World's Religions Tradition, Challenge, Change Second Edition