The Forest People

Turnbull’s engaging narrative seeks to explain the relationship between the BaMbuti and the forest. This relationship defines all aspects of life for the BaMbuti who see themselves first and foremost as the children of the forest. They owe their lives to the forest, as well as their successes. Their hardships are also a result of the forest, though they consider hardships a result of the forest sleeping. When this happens, the BaMbuti perform the molimo ritual to wake the forest up and make it happy. As Moke explains, the BaMbuti are the children of the forest and, when the forest dies, they will die. Their lives are inextricably tied to the forest.

The Negro villagers see the forest as evil, unlike the BaMbuti who believe that if the forest contains darkness then darkness must be good. The Negro villagers believe the forest is home to darkness that is filled with magic and witchcraft. They fear the forest, and ensure that they never journey into the forest unless necessary. Turnbull uses the villager’s fear to highlight how they are not children of the forest, and not like the BaMbuti in their beliefs.