ok, so I am "lean" on my blog information . . . well yeah, I am, I am working to get ANYONE to respond to what I NEED. So, I am now left to look into the written word that is available and to try and connect with anyone else who may know anything pertinent about the Batwa. I have my own memories and I can subject you to those, but I must admit that I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. I would prefer to ask questions of James and Mangerie, but to my dismay I have to wait on EVERYONE ELSE. So, if you detect a bit of sarcasm and hhhrrrrumpfffppph! It is because of the deep frustration I am experiencing with most aspects of this project. There may even be a few expletives sprinkled in where I just don't feel like curbing my language! I will start with the 2010 journal that I kept for the two weeks we were there. That journal and the 1400 photos I took should have some meat to feed the MACHINE!
Our trip up the mountainside to the Batwa cultural experience began innocently enough, western tourist types hiking up to be introduced to the history of the Batwa pygmies of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. As I reported back to my friends here in the U.S. when I was there . . . I bet it was hysterical watching a fat-ass white woman huffin' and puffin' straight up the mountainside.
This was our view from the area around the cultural center, the views were spectacular, so was the adventure.
From this vantage point we moved further up the mountainside until we met a small group of Elders from the Batwa . . . they greeted us at the entry to the final ascent to the cultural center.
James was the Chief guide and the individual who spoke about their lives in the forest. Along our path James showed us the way they slept in and under trees and rocks, any nook or small shelter would suffice.
From this point we continue up the mountainside (yes, up, up, up, huffin', puffin' and thinking how can anyone live this way?) I felt like I live a soft life.
I have no idea how old James is, he certainly looks older than I believe he is, but with no written records before 1992, it is hard to say what his age might be. I was struck by the mix of modern clothing with forest reproduction, neither looked great . . . both were tattered. The women that were in this group of elders were amazing too, they were stronger than me and again, I am thinking they were older too. Although an average age for a Batwa pygmy is 28 years, I was 48 when I was walking side by side with these women of the forest. How much older (if at all) are these women? They aren't even breathing hard as we keep winding up the mountainside. The thought that they could actually be younger than me really was a mind bender, I still can't wrap my mind around it. Hard life ages you, ages you before your time. After just the experience of getting to the center, I realized this was a way of life for all the Batwa, moving from place to place in the forest searching for food and shelter. Now add children into the mix - this is a hard, hard way of living and it was done for thousands of years . . . so I guess it isn't abnormal for me to have a problem my first day.
Mangerie is on the right . . . she is another person I will be interviewing. I really want to know what their lives, (James & Mangerie), were like in the forest. More to come. . . .
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