Tour Guide, Kampala, Uganda
| 3 mins read
Batwa people is one of the most interesting tribes in Africa and the world because of their unique culture and way of life. This is commonly known as “Pygmies” and currently still live in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with a total population of 86,000 to 112,000 in all the respective countries. You would ask the kind of language these people speak; Batwa is a derivative root word common to the Bantu language group, meaning they speak Bantu related language.
A person of the Batwa tribe is known as “Mutw in the singular, and the nation of Batwa is called “Butwa”. The Bantu language in sub-Saharan Africa uses the term "Twa" to refer to people who are almost in every case hunter-gatherers. Batwa people are believed to have originated from central Africa and are continuously being marginalized and silenced, which has rendered them one of Central Africa’s most vulnerable and endangered groups. These small-sturated people are the oldest surviving tribes in Africa but their culture, identity, and language are under increasing threat.
The Batwa people survived by hunting using arrows and spears and then gathering fruits of trees late in their habitat, formally the forest. Batwa is a member of an ethnic group whose average height is usually short, where adult men are average less than “150cm” or 4 feet. It’s because of their defined height and unique culture that makes them more interesting.
Where to find Batwa people?
Batwa are found in various corners of the world. For example, Batwa of Uganda is situated in the south-west of the country, particularly in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. These endangered people are in areas of the Echuya forest reserve in the Kisoro and Kabale districts. Echuya is located in the Albertine Rift region recognized as an important eco-region. Batwa people of Rwanda mainly live on the inaccessible fringes of the forest volcanoes, and Batwa of the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo lives around Kivu near Uganda and Rwanda borders in Ituri forest; however, all are Batwa just split into different allocations.
Batwa being an interesting and entertaining tribe has also been considered for “tourism”. However, Uganda's government literally allocated an affordable cost for visitors to visit and have an incredible experience. There are higher chances to see Batwa when in any of those places. It could be fascinating to include the Batwa experience, especially on your trip to Uganda and Rwanda; it’s amazing and entertaining when with these unique people’s life experiences.