Product Description

Colin Turnbull lived among the pygmies of the Ituri Forest in the Congo as their friend for three years. He writes about their hunting parties, their nomadic camps, their quarrels and love affairs, their music and their ceremonies. It is an account of an earthly paradise and of a legendary and delightful people. The author also wrote "The Mountain People", "The Lonely African" and "Tibet".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #130378 in Books
• Published on: 1994-01-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Customer Reviews

An excellent ethnography and an entertaining read.
Turnbull's account of BaMbuti life is both emotive and informative, focusing on the lives of a small number of individuals the reader is brought into the lives of these people. It is well written and it is entirely possible to find oneself immeresed in the lives documented. The information is interesting and thought provoking and this ethnography is relevant and full of information for both anthropologists and all others interested in the peoples of the world.

A rare book of quality on a dwindling segment of humanity.
A captivating glimpse into the otherwise little known about world of the forest pygmy. Turnbull's perceptive interest and indeed nosiness into the world of these people results in a glorious window looking into their lives - from mundane daily activities to elaborate ritual celebration. The descriptions of these people yield vivid pictures of individuals and their plight to survive, though after finishing the book, one is not left with a sense of this plight as being an arduous ordeal; indeed one has the quiet sense of contentment that these people cling to their existence because of the rich rewards that it brings to them, both socially and individually. Being accepted into the very heart of pygmy culture, Turnbull explores the relationships between the pygmies, the villagers from outside of the forest's protection, the animals and plants of the forest, and of the concept of the forest itself being the provider and guide for the pygmies. These relationships, beyond the ordinary concept of a 21st century Westerner, are brought home with a clarity that leaves one a sense of bewilderment that such people still exist, and joy that this very fact is indeed so.

So good I cannot praise it enogh
What can I say, this book just rocks. These are the real people of the forest.

It helps if you are into nature and anthropology. In any case by the end of the book you will be. Easy to read and heart warming as one discovers what it means to live in harmony with the forest. Something we have all lost but can at least gain an insight in to. An important piece of work that will stand the test of time. Read it and remind yourself about the essence of things.