African PygmiesThe African Pygmies (or Congo Pygmies, variously also Central African foragers, African rainforest hunter-gatherers (RHG) or Forest People of Central Africa) are a group of ethnicities native to Central Africa, mostly the Congo Basin, traditionally subsisting on a forager and hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
TwaThe Twa, often referred to as Batwa or Mutwa (singular), Barhwa or Murhwa (singular), are indigenous hunter-gatherer peoples of the Great Lakes Region in Central Africa, recognized as some of the earliest inhabitants of the area. Historically and academically, the term "Pygmy" has been used to describe these groups; however, it is considered derogatory, particularly by the Twa themselves.Short statureShort stature refers to a height of a human that is below typical. Whether a person is considered short depends on the context. Because of the lack of preciseness, there is often disagreement about the degree of shortness that should be called short. Dwarfism is the condition of being very short, often caused by a medical condition.
DwarfismDwarfism is a condition marked by the unusually small size or short stature of individual animals. In humans, it is defined as an adult height of 147 centimetres (4 ft 10 in) or less, regardless of sex; the average adult height among people with dwarfism is 120 centimetres (4 ft). Disproportionate dwarfism is characterized by either short limbs or a short torso. In cases of proportionate dwarfism, both the limbs and torso are unusually small.
Congo BasinThe Congo Basin is the sedimentary basin of the Congo River. The Congo Basin is located in Central Africa, in a region known as west equatorial Africa. The region is sometimes known simply as the Congo. It contains some of the largest tropical rainforests in the world and is an important source of water used in agriculture and energy generation.
PhenotypeIn genetics, the phenotype (from Ancient Greek (phaínō)'to appear, show' and (túpos)'mark, type') is the set of observable characteristics or traits of an organism. The term covers all traits of an organism other than its genome, however transitory: the organism's morphology (physical form and structure), its developmental processes, its biochemical and physiological properties whether reversible or irreversible, and all its behavior, such as a peacock's display.
AnthropologyAnthropology is the scientific study of humanity that crosses biology and sociology, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including archaic humans. Social anthropology studies patterns of behavior, while cultural anthropology studies cultural meaning, including norms and values. The term sociocultural anthropology is commonly used today.
Hunter-gathererPeoples who forage or hunt for most or all of their foodA painting by Pierre Barrère of a Kalina hunter-gatherer couple in French GuianaCentral African foragers in the Congo Basin in August 2014A hunter-gatherer or forager is a human living in a community (or according to an ancestrally derived lifestyle) in which most or all food is obtained by procuring naturally occurring edible items from the local wildlife and vegetation via hunting, fishing and/or gathering fruits, seeds and other plant parts (collectively known as vegetables) as well as edible fungi such as mushrooms.
EthnicitySocial group defined by shared traitsAn ethnicity or ethnic group is a group of humans who identify with each other on the basis of perceived shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups. Attributes that ethnicities are believed to share include language, culture, common sets of ancestry, traditions, society, religion, history, region(s), or social treatment.
EndemismEndemism is the state of a species being found only in a singular defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, the Cape sugarbird (Promerops cafer) is found exclusively in southwestern South Africa and is therefore said to be endemic to that particular part of the world.
Mbuti peopleThe Mbuti people, or Bambuti, are one of several indigenous groups in the Congo region of Africa. Their languages are Central Sudanic languages and Bantu languages. SubgroupsBambuti are pygmyhunter-gatherers, and are one of the oldest indigenous people of the Congo region of Africa. The Bambuti are composed of bands which are relatively small in size, ranging from 15 to 60 people. The Bambuti population totals about 30,000 to 40,000 people.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.