10 Facts About the Batwa You Should Know – The Batwa are originally the first inhabitants of the tropical rainforest of Bwindi. They are known to be hunters and gatherers who lived in peace with the mountain gorillas in the forest.
They loved the forest so much, considering it as their own body according to the saying “Amutwa.” The Batwa used to feed on the same food as the mountain gorillas, who they considered family.
During the Batwa’s stay in the forest for the past 500,000 years, there was no destruction of wildlife because these amazing people lived in harmony with their beloved forests.
In 1992, the Batwa began living a pathetic life after the tropical rainforest of Bwindi was turned into a national park to conserve the endangered mountain gorillas.
Currently, the Batwa are not allowed to live in the forest but are dependent on it. In 2011, the Uganda Wildlife Authority solicited funds from the US Agency for International Development and the Netherlands Embassy in Kampala to support these amazing people.
What has enabled the Batwa tribe to survive for many years now is the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, which has accepted to work with them.
The Batwa speak Rutwa, though they can speak other languages depending on where they stay. The Batwa are pygmies, known as the shortest tribe in Uganda, with an average height of 60 inches (157 cm) among men and 57 inches (145 cm) among women.
The Batwa are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.
10 Facts About the Batwa
- The Batwa originally lived in forests where they made shelters out of leaves and branches of trees. They love the forest as their own body.
- The Batwa have long suffered discrimination from society and the government, leading to social and economic challenges.
- The Batwa are the original inhabitants of the Bwindi and Mgahinga forests and shared the same food with the mountain gorillas.
- The Batwa are widely known for their height; a man is 60.1 inches (157 cm) tall, and a woman is 57 inches (145 cm) tall. They are known as pygmies.
- The Batwa are hunters and gatherers who lived in harmony with the forest and enjoyed its resources. They used to hunt small animals and gather fruits for food.
- The Batwa population is about 6,700, currently living in Kisoro and Kabale, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
- The Batwa are recognized as Africa’s oldest tribe and live in the mountainous areas of Uganda. They are believed to have settled in Bwindi and Mgahinga forests over 4,000 years ago.
- The Batwa are known for being welcoming people, who are happy, constantly smile, and freely treat their visitors, performing dances and singing folk songs.
- The Batwa people are known for applying their knowledge to make herbal medicine used in the treatment of various diseases.
- The Batwa have suffered land problems after their original habitats were taken when Bwindi and Mgahinga were reserved as national parks. They were displaced to protect the endangered mountain gorillas.
In conclusion, the Batwa are amazing people to visit, and tourists indeed have a great time interacting with them and exploring their cultures.
