Children of the Forest: Africa's Mbuti Pygmies [Paperback]

Kevin Duffy (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0881338850 | ISBN-13: 978-0881338850 | Publication Date: December 1995

This intimate study portrays the hunter-gatherer Mbuti pygmies of Zaire. Kevin Duffy describes how these forest nomads, who are as adapted to the forest as its wildlife, gratefully acknowledge their beloved home as the source of everything they need: food, clothing, shelter, and affection. Looking on the forest in deified terms, they sing and pray to it and call themselves its children. With his patience and knowledge of their ways, Duffy was accepted by these, the world's smallest people, and invited to participate in the cycle of their lives from birth to death. This book is an excellent companion piece to Duffy's 50-minute film, Pygmies of the Rainforest, which was shown on PBS's science series, NOVA, as "BaMiki BaNdula". A 28-minute version (Children of the Forest) is also available.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA The way of life of the Mbuti pygmies of Zaire is explored in this highly readable book. The anthropologist-author lived in two different villages in Zaire's rain forests for several weeks with these people, sharing their way of life and talking to them about their beliefs and culture. Although this society has existed successfully for thousands of years, its existence depends on the nomadic treks through the rain forests, and Duffy questions how much longer the culture will last now that the government has ordered the people to stop roving, to settle down in one area and to start paying taxes. Duffy writes in a warm and intimate manner, and readers come to know members of the tribes in a personal manner and to care if their way of life will continue. There are many photographs, but the quality is so poor that, unfortunately, they detract from the text rather than add to it. Pat Royal, Prince George's County Public School System, Md.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Waveland Pr Inc (December 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881338850
• ISBN-13: 978-0881338850
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A deep look into the forest at the lives of Mbuti Pygmies, March 8, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Memphis, TN (USA)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Children of the Forest: Africa's Mbuti Pygmies (Paperback)

Had to read this for an anthropology class, was really dreading the whole thing. But I found myself more and more captivated by the objective yet personal insight into the lives of possibly the most unchanged known culture still in existence. I've gained a new respect both for the diversity of human life and for anthropology. I highly recommend this book to anyone curious enough to take the time and seek the insight of a gifted story-teller. You'll find yourself longing to be right there along with the author, and feeling as though you were.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well-written, easy to follow guide through another world, September 13, 2000

By 

Daniel G. Keohane "author of Margaret's Ark" (New England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Children of the Forest: Africa's Mbuti Pygmies (Paperback)

Kevin Duffy takes us to places we can only imagine in this book. He rarely skips any details as he describes his time with the Mbuti pygnies of the Congo, yet you never feel like your being hit over the head with the facts. I found myself there, experiencing with him the sights, smells, sounds of the forest, and mingling with a people I may never meet, but for whom I've developed a new-found respect. Read this book if you want to visit such a beautiful, and sometimes dangerous, land, and perhaps come to understand a group of people who have for so long remained elusive to most of the outside world. Excellent book.