Baka women forge new bonds

For the first time, women from several Baka villages in the northern Republic of Congo have come together to discuss matters important to them, such as the role of the women in Baka society, female leadership, and how they perceive the value of their Baka culture.

The women came from 16 communities on opposite sides of the Messok Dja proposed protected area to attend the 3-day event in Bala Ngomane, the Baka quarter of the town of Souanke, in the Sangha region.  

Members of this many Baka villages rarely have the opportunity to gather together. This was the first such event exclusively for women.  

Funded by FPP, the event was conceptualised by both FPP and APETDS (Association pour la Promotion des Ecosystèmes Tropicaux et le Développement de la Sangha) after hearing many women express their desire for a more active role in making decisions concerning their lands, and their regret at not being adequately consulted in community decisions, especially for projects proposed by external organisations.

Over the 3 days, the women discussed their role in educating children, passing knowledge to younger generations, and sustainably managing natural resources. They shared how decision-making happens in their community, and the challenges they face in taking part in these processes. They spoke about what makes them proud to be Baka, and how they might overcome harmful narratives about the Baka. They had the opportunity to talk about how they organise themselves and build strategies to unite in advocating for their rights.

For many women, it was the first time they had been invited to speak before an audience, and the degree to which participants’ confidence grew over the course of the event was pronounced. At a subsequent exchange, female participation was noticeably higher.