THE BATWA CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

                    

The Batwa Cultural Experience was created by the displaced Batwa pygmies to educate their children and to share their amazing heritage and traditions with the world. This cultural site is a project of the Batwa Development Program, a community organization that supports the Batwa at becoming self-sufficient.

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a home to some of the greatest biodiversity on the planet, a profusion of exotic plants and animals that includes the endangered mountain gorillas. For thousands of years, the forest was also home to indigenous people that are the Batwa pygmies.

As the original dwellers of this ancient jungle, the Batwa were known as “The Keepers of the Forest.” The history of these small-statured people is long and rich. The Batwa survived by hunting small game using arrows or nets and gathering plants and fruit in the rain forest. They lived in huts constructed of leaves and branches, moving frequently in search of fresh supplies of food. The Batwa lived in harmony with the forest and its creatures, including the mountain gorillas and many others.

My first visit at the site was really interesting and I had an incredible day hike in the rain forest with Batwa guides, saw how the Batwa lived and hunted, learnt about medicinal plants, how they used to collect honey, the hut like houses they had, where their Nyabingi used to live and so many other things.

I shared a traditional meal with the Batwa, heard ancient legends and traditional songs, and I had to join in a mock hunting party where I had to test my skill with a Batwa bow and arrow before having the meal. I also participated in traditional dances with the Batwa elders and their Nyabingi.They told us myths and stories like before one went for hunting he had to first ask for blessings from the Nyabingi (their god) before going to hut.

They also told us that the Forest became a National park and World Heritage Site to protect the 350 endangered mountain gorillas within its boundaries and that they were evicted from the park. Since they had no title to land, they were given no compensation. The Batwa became conservation refugees in areas that they were not familiar to.

Most of them died during the early years of exile, and their existence was severely threatened. Since 2001, American medical missionaries Dr. Scott and Carol Kellermann have dedicated themselves to serving the Batwa in southwest Uganda. They also built a hospital in Bwindi majorly to support the Batwa people where they are treated free of charge. They are also provided with other several facilities like meals especially to the homeless and the sick.

They also developed a Batwa Development Program to help the Batwa people especially in facilitating their education and welfare. The program has helped many Batwas in acquiring knowledge concerning weaving, pottery, designing, cooking like in restaurants, printing like t- shirts, singing and thus eradicating illiteracy amongst them and thus catering for their wellbeing like other people.