The Forest People by Colin Turnbull

The Forest People by Colin Turnbull describes the life of the Pygmy as seen by Turnbull in time he spent living with them. It describes the life of Pygmies living in villages and that of those living in the forest. It looks at their social structure, and how they function as a bulture. It loojs at some of their customs, including the molimo festival, which celebrates the bounty of the forest; the elima celebration, which celebrates a young girl's coming into womanhood; and the nkumbi initiation of Pygmy boys into manhood, a practice carried out in the villages but not really a part of the forest culture, and only endured by Pygmies so they can gain acceptance by villagers.

The book looks at the system of rules and laws of the Pygmy, and how they punish different levels of crime in their society. It looks at courtship and marriage ceremonies and rituals, and how brides are chosen in the villages and in the forests. It tells of the hunting rituals, and how they are respected by all, and punishment is meted out on one who disrespects these conventions. The village Pygmy can be seen to be very much under the influence of the Negro culture in the villages. The forest Pygmy live a life much closer to nature than those in the village, and has a great respect for the forest which provides their every need.

1. In the forest, the Pygmies are hunter/gatherers, building small camps, and moving on to follow the game. In the village, life is different. Fires are brought

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hich comes to everyone. The pygmies bury their dead and go on with life. 4. The molimo festival ceremony does not follow any prescribed ritualistic pattern (Turnbull, 1961, 79-81). Every day, youths take a basket around the camp, collecting food and firewood from everyone. Each evening, women and children shut themselves inside their huts and the men take care of the molimo. The men sit around the hearth of the molimo, and sing before they eat the donated food. The molimo is referred to as the "animal of the forest" and the women are supposed to believe it really is an animal. A pipe trumpet is blown before and after the ceremony, representing the sound of the animal. The Pygmy consider the forest good because it provides all their needs. 5. Cephu's crime was to effectively "steal" game from the other hunters by sneaking ahead and putting up his net in front of theirs to trap the first game lushed out by the beaters Turnbull, 1961, 94-108). He did not share with the others. It was resolved by him being shamed in front of the whole band and having to apologize and give them the meat. 6. The Pygmy have no chiefs or formal councils (Turnbull, 1961, 110-111). Each dispute is settled as it arises. There were four way

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