THE BATWA PEOPLE - UGANDA
Conservation Refugees
Drastic changes in their lifestyle, constant discrimination, and zero opportunities. The Batwa in Uganda don’t need charity and donations. They need to be protected for who they are.
I learned about the Batwa, also known by the derogatory name “Pygmies”, studying anthropology in college. African Pygmies are often assumed to be the direct descendants of the Middle Stone Age hunter-gatherer peoples of the central African rainforest.
The Batwa are now also called conservation refugees, as governments scramble to cope with the pressures of population growth and climate change.
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They were unwillingly forced and displaced from the impenetrable rainforests due to conservation efforts and the need to expand habitation for mountain gorillas. After their expulsion, the public authority gave some Batwa families farmland. Unfortunately, they didn’t know how to cultivate – nor were taught how.
Today an estimated 6,000 Ugandan Batwa live on the periphery of the forest, pushed higher and higher up the mountainside, or in slums in nearby towns.
They are among the poorest inhabitants of one of the world's poorest countries, laboring on nearby farms or performing for tourists when they can. Those who do receive a portion of the park entry fees. No tourists mean no pay.
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The Batwa see tourism as one of the few options to move forward.
“We’re now living in poverty. We were sent away from our land. Our tribe has become endangered because many of the Batwa, after being sent away from the forests, scattered to other parts of the county and many died because they could not cope with life outside the forest. Before being evicted we used to use herbal medicine and ate the fruits from trees which made our people live long and hunted for animals, so food was plentiful. Now we struggle to look for food”. - Betty Keturesi who was the only one who spoke a little English.
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"We were evicted from the forests, and now they are home to the mountain gorillas."
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And unlike these conservation refugees, the gorilla population has grown from 400 to about 460. But the Batwa see very little of the tens of millions of dollars Uganda earns from tourism revenue.
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The situation with the Batwa People in Uganda presents a complex ethical dilemma that involves balancing the conservation of endangered species with the human rights of indigenous communities. The Batwa People have been living in the forest for generations and rely on its resources for their livelihoods and cultural practices. However, the conservation efforts to protect the gorillas have restricted their access to the forest and disrupted their way of life, leading to poverty, social exclusion, and cultural loss.
On the one hand, protecting endangered species is essential for the biodiversity and the ecological balance of the planet. Gorillas are a keystone species that play a crucial role in their ecosystem, and their conservation benefits not only the wildlife but also the local communities through eco-tourism and conservation education.
Conservation efforts can also include community-based approaches that involve the participation and benefit-sharing of indigenous people, recognizing their traditional knowledge and rights.
Traditionally, when men went hunting, they used to build tree houses like this one where they left the little ones under the care of the eldest woman of the community to keep them safe from wildlife, while women and mothers gathered fruits and herbs for cooking.
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In 1991, the government of Uganda reclassified lands the Batwa had lived on for millennia as national parks. That decision pitted the interests of largely invisible people against those of an animal that had become a global icon for environmental conservation.
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I spent a whole day with them (wish I had more time). They showed me how they used to make fire when they lived in the forest and even recreated a hunting . I was struck by the genuine warmth and hospitality of the Batwa people, who welcomed me into their homes and shared stories, songs and dances with me.
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At the same time, I was saddened to learn about the history of discrimination, displacement and marginalization that the Batwa have faced for generations.
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I left my visit with a renewed appreciation for the diversity and richness of human cultures, and a commitment to advocating for greater respect, recognition and support for indigenous peoples and their rights.
The Batwa People have faced discrimination, marginalization, and exploitation throughout history, and their displacement from the forest can worsen their situation and cause intergenerational trauma. The conservation of gorillas should not come at the cost of sacrificing the well-being and dignity of human beings. As an animal lover, I really hope and pray that a balance between the Batwa and the gorillas can be achieved. A holistic and compassionate approach towards conservation and community welfare is crucial, recognizing that the two are intertwined and dependent upon each other for long-term success.
Bwindi, Uganda 2023
To know more see this PBS News Hour Special: Uganda’s Batwa tribe, considered conservation refugees, see little government support.