Pygmy, Batwa in Uganda

Introduction / History

At one time the Batwa Pygmies made their living by hunting and from the fruits of the forest. They no longer do this. They live in Uganda and three other countries in east-central Africa.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Members of the tribe make pots which they take to the market to sell, but they say there is a very big gap between the burden of making them and the very little money they get. The clay is hard to find because the swamps where the clay comes from is no longer exploited because of the protection of the environment. To get this small quantity of clay, they need to beg the owners of the land because the Batwa themselves do not own the land.

Generally the Batwa in this area have a very hard life, they find inconsistent jobs to do for other people around to get a little money. When this work is not found, they go hungry.

They live in congestion in their small houses. For example, you may find a family of 7 people staying in a single room, children and parents together. When you get inside their houses, you find neither a bench nor a bed nor a mattress in the bedroom. When the night comes some of them never receive a visitor to spend a night with them. This is not because they do not wish to receive visitors, but because if a visitor comes, there is no place for them to stay. Those who do own a locally made bed will scatter grass on it to lay down in place of mattress which they cannot afford to buy for themselves.

They are receptive people. They marry at a young age as teens after they leave school.

Their children attend primary schools but they never go far in their education because of the extreme poverty that does not allow them to pay school fees for their children. Children leave school very early to engage in small jobs in the neighborhood and in markets to earn a living. Batwa children are harassed and insulted in the schools by teachers and fellow students.

Because of the political and economic change, the Batwa culture is threatened. Pressure is everywhere, and the Batwa seem to have forsaken their traditional dances, concerts and other cultural facts to the survival means of every day.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most believe in their traditional religion, but there is also a Christian presence, mostly from the Roman Catholics. There is also an Evangelical presence.

What Are Their Needs?

Batwa Pygmies need the Holy Spirit to move in their churches, drawing them to the only savior, the one who is the truth.

Prayer Points

Pray for a Holy Spirit awakening in their churches and homes.
Pray for hundreds of Batwa Pygmies to put all their faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray that soon Batwa disciples will make more disciples.
Pray for Batwa youth to learn training skills to help them to regularly earn a living.

Text Source:   Joshua Project