MBUTI

Bordering on Uganda to the east and Sudan to the north, the Ituri forest in Zaire is the home of a pygmy people called the Mbuti. Bantu and Sudanic peoples came to the area about four hundred years ago and forced the Mbuti deeper into the forest. Founding their nomadic hunting and gathering lifestyle a bit threatened, the various pygmy bands allied themselves to whichever group was nearest to them. The Bantu and Sudanic peoples used the pygmies as guides. Isolated bands of Mbuti picked up the language of their patrons and quickly lost their own mother tongue. In return for food and protection the Mbuti acted as guides for the invading tribes.

Hunting bands may consist of anything between three to thirty families. Movement of Mbuti camps depend on the availability of forest food and the immediate whereabouts of game. Nets are used for hunting in contrast to the Efe who are archers. Each family in the band ties its net to those around them. Men and youths then form a semicircle while the women and young girls, at a given signal, beat the undergrowth with branches making a distinctive whooping cry. As soon as an animal falls into the nets it is killed with a spear. The owner of the net will give it to his wife to put in her basket; however, if the animal is too large it is cut up and shared among everybody in the band. When sharing, priority is given to individual needs.

The family is the basic unit of the hunting camp. Monogamy is the rule, but from time to time the exception to this rule does appear. When the father dies any brother deemed most fit by the band will take responsibility for the children.

Largely communal, the building of a camp is a major activity. Men gather the saplings and women gather the mongongo leaves used for the roofs. Huts are build by the women and are beehive shaped. Each hut has a narrow entrance. Clusters of huts represent friendships rather than family ties. Entrances to these huts point toward friends and away from rivals.

A system of egalitarianism is followed. Younger married men, who are also the most active, have the most say in the daily discussions as to the direction in which the hunt is to go. Matters concerning the gathering of fruit are settled by the young married women as they are most actively involved in this. Unmarried men and women, it seems, have the least say in day to day discussions. Serious disputes are handled by a widowed elder or by a stranger in the camp. If no solution can be found the camp will spilt in two, each party going its separate way. Understanding of life seems to be quite simple to the Mbuti: one is born, grows up, marries, rears a family, and then finale dies. Children are only named after a couple of days, proving that he is going to survive. Any adult may take up the responsibility of raising children. In the same, children may expect food from any adult. The forest is the life of the Mbuti. When something goes wrong they sing songs of praise to the forest, believing that the forest deity will see their plight. Burial simply involves the pulling down of the deceased's hut over his body and abandoning the camp."

• Population (year): 41.8 million (1995)
• Major Religion: Christian
• Percent Christian: 95.9%
• Percent Evangelical: 21%
• Openness to Missionaries: Open"

1. HAVE THEY HEARD THE GOSPEL?

Who is Jesus Christ to them? 10% Believe Jesus is the Son of God

2. HAVE THEY RESPONDED TO THE GOSPEL?

Believers to population: 1 believer to every *10 persons (total believers - *7 600)(*10%)

3. DO THEY HAVE A CHURCH?

Churches to population: 1 church for every ? persons (total persons - ?)

4. DOES THIS PEOPLE HAVE THE WORD OF GOD TRANSLATED INTO THEIR MOTHER TONGUE?

No.

5. ANY HINDRANCE TO SCRIPTURE DISTRIBUTION?

The forest is quite difficult to penetrate and the Mbuti follows a nomadic lifestyle.

6. WHAT OTHER FORMS OF GOSPEL PRESENTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

None that we know of.

7. ARE THEY RECEPTIVE TO CHANGE AND TO CHRISTIANITY?

No, they see change as a moral degeneration and as a hostile.

8. DO THEY REQUIRE OUTSIDE (CROSS-CULTURAL) ASSISTANCE?

Yes, the gospel still needs to be presented to them in a clear and understandable way.

*All figures are estimates"