People of the Congo

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People of the Congo
by Rhett A. Butler
Mongabay.com

People of the Congo Rainforest - the "Pygmies"

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Today the African rainforest is home to some of the most celebrated tribal people, the so-called Pygmies of the Ituri forest in northern Zaire. The tallest of these people, known as the Mbuti, rarely exceed 5 feet (1.5 m) in height. Besides the Mbuti, there are three other major rainforest peoples of Africa: the Aka (Central African Republic and northern Congo), the Baka (southern Cameroon), and the Twa (central Zaire river basin). Together these groups account for some 130,000 to 170,000 forest dwellers distributed over a large area of forest. The result is low population density; the Mbuti average fewer than one person per every one-and-a-half square miles (four square kilometers).

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