Additionally, there's something you mentioned that I want to touch upon in reference to your statement: "Turnbull also touches on the fact that these are a dying people, and wants to preserve their history." I decided to do some poking around to see whether or not the Mbuti were still around even today, and I came across a pretty interesting article titled "Lured Toward Modern Life, Pygmy Families Left in Limbo." The article was published in the Washington Post back in 2006, and details how drastically the Mbuti Pygmies' way of life has changed over the past few decades. Unfortunately, due to civil unrest in the Republic of Congo, the Mbuti, "fled their homes because of the militia fighting that has consumed this mineral-rich eastern region"
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At the time this article was published, Achille Biffumbu, a field director for another relief organization named CIDOPY that was helping to support various dislocated Pygmy groups, began "cutting off aid [to the Mbuti] to encourage them to leave, because, in his estimation, they would be better off back in the forest" (McCrummen). However, Mbuti "chief" Byeragi Ngenderezi believes that returning to the forest is not a desire in the hearts of his people, for many want the modern way of life they were exposed to after having to flee from the forest. Due to the fact that the Mbuti interacted with villagers and people other than their own, they were introduced to what type of lifestyle was possible to live. Because of this, "When the time came, they embraced Mugunga as a way out" (McCrummen) and a fresh start that would allow them to live the lives they only got to observe for so long. The Mbuti even travel into the nearby city of Goma looking for work and any way to make money, desperate to live lives outside of the forest. However, the Mbuti are struggling to support themselves, for jobs are scarce and they cannot survive by hunting or making pottery like they used to because "there are [no animals] to hunt around [Mugunga]...[and] the dirt in Mugunga is unsuitable" (McCrummen). However, the Mbuti refuse to give up their dreams of having permanent homes and sending
At the time this article was published, Achille Biffumbu, a field director for another relief organization named CIDOPY that was helping to support various dislocated Pygmy groups, began "cutting off aid [to the Mbuti] to encourage them to leave, because, in his estimation, they would be better off back in the forest" (McCrummen). However, Mbuti "chief" Byeragi Ngenderezi believes that returning to the forest is not a desire in the hearts of his people, for many want the modern way of life they were exposed to after having to flee from the forest. Due to the fact that the Mbuti interacted with villagers and people other than their own, they were introduced to what type of lifestyle was possible to live. Because of this, "When the time came, they embraced Mugunga as a way out" (McCrummen) and a fresh start that would allow them to live the lives they only got to observe for so long. The Mbuti even travel into the nearby city of Goma looking for work and any way to make money, desperate to live lives outside of the forest. However, the Mbuti are struggling to support themselves, for jobs are scarce and they cannot survive by hunting or making pottery like they used to because "there are [no animals] to hunt around [Mugunga]...[and] the dirt in Mugunga is unsuitable" (McCrummen). However, the Mbuti refuse to give up their dreams of having permanent homes and sending