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Pygmies Wamba |
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Sisi Wambuti tuko!!! |
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Pygmies |
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The PYGMIES PEOPLE (Approximately 40.000 persons in the Diocese of Wamba), generally live in the deep forest of Congo, with a primitive and infrahuman lifestyle. Other ethnic groups often marginalize them and they are even « exploited » in a cruel way. Although they were called « Premiers Citoyens»(First Citizens) during Mobutu’s regime, on the contrary, they do not enjoy their rights as citizens. As an exchange of their service, they are paid in form of alcohol and drugs. Their hunting product has no value.
Pygmies are not under-humans as many think! When he sees himself “scoffed” or when his rights are not respected, he tries to make justice alone, he turns his attention to stealing, and often this generates hatred and revenge from the neighboring Bantus.
Once they are found guilty, they are beaten and punished without facing justice. They are often killed or rendered handicapped just for small offences (like stealing palm wine!). The Pygmies are peaceful people. If, for instance, they are not welcomed in a village, rather than fighting, they leave, change the place and return to the forest… where they are free to dance under the moon. They live on a daily basis without troubling themselves about tomorrow and they do not accumulate goods and commodities. (They do not have the thirst of the credit note).
When a pygmy man is hunting, and if he successfully captures an animal, he does not follow the second one, but the one caught is enough for him; and still, all that he had of "good luck" (hunting or picking) is "shared" among all the members of the camp!
The love of the Pygmies towards their children and their families is quite intense: this explains why they always move, work and act in groups. Their marriage is dominantly marked by monogamy. The continuity of this stability is ensured by their custom of the "exchange" of the girls called “ kichwa kwa kichwa” (head to head).
Because of their marginalization, the Pygmies remained left out in terms of national interests, never prone or recipient of the public preventive healthcare, no schools, no transport nor taxes. They are ignored as far as sharing a national cake is concerned and subjected to the whims of whomever! A people who deserve a better life. They have potentials to live a dignified life but it is quite the contrary, they are reduced to an infrahuman degree! They are the most ignored people in the country.
It is now six years since the Diocesan Pastoral of PY. Wamba initiated a common pastoral Plan combining efforts of the founding missionaries who were in missions before. This common pastoral aims at integrating the Pygmies people in the Christian community and above all in the Congolese society of today having like others the same rights, responsibilities and dignity for the construction of a fraternal world of Justice. A world where both Bantu and Pygmies will live peacefully.
The priorities are given to setting activities in motion mostly focused on EDUCATING CHILDREN, who are the hope of these people. Using appropriate means of gathering in camps, we organize in camps a series of agricultural activities in common to assure their self-reliance. In camps, it is also easier to assure the regular presence of the children in schools. This helps them to overcome the tendencies of becoming subject of exploitation or becoming thieves. It assures their security and freedom hence the constant attending of school of their children. This too goes hand in hand with the formation and according dignity to the pygmies women, who represents the pivot of any possible progress of Pygmies people. Women detain authority in the camps and in the family. Once trained, women can become agents of transformation of the life of Pygmies. Through them, we can reach out others and come out with initiative aiming at improving the hygienic conditions and health sectors of Pygmies (with small houses better than huts) and all others activities of human promotion. |
