The Okapi Reserve

Category: Epulu, Mbuti Pygmies | Date: Jun 06 2007 | By: admin

Makubasi and Issa the two pygmie man are more than 70 years old. They are always found and have been leaving together from their childhood. Their fathers George and Faisi were twins.

They used to live in the Bandindikwe area 5km east of Epulu village, next to their Mubila tribe master, called Ngoma. However, a conflict rose between the pygmies and the Babila due to incensuous ritual dance. The pygmies felt diminished and reacted in arrow battle.

Ngoma brought the pygmy clan to Mr. Putnam for sale. Putnam was living in Epulu his house was named ‘Palais’ (palace). He strongly condemned Ngoma for his criminal proposal and warned him that human being can not be sold. Putnma requested George and Faisi to move next to his property for safety.

At that time no bridge was set crossing over the Epulu River. People had to use embarkation.

After the death of their fathers, Makubasi and Issa stayed at Putnam’s property. In 1967 they moved to the Okapi capture station and set up their camp behind the Okapi enclosures and from their they changed again their location back to the forest close to Lelo River area.

Except for the time Makubasi worked in Garamba National Park for one year, feeding monkeys, warthogs and porcupines, he lived with his brother Issa in full harmony.

‘This requires good temper, culture of advising and understanding each other together with forgiveness’. Issa said that they learned it from their grandfahters and fathers. ‘Our grandfathers warned us about conflicts and wars’. They experienced arrow battles and predicted we would see firearm war. And they were very right as we realize it now ’said Makubasi.

George was Makubasi’s father and Faisi Issa’s. In the same coindience of George being elder to Faisi, Makubasi is elder to Issa. Issa keeps revealing this with a lot of respect. It bears the impression that speaking of two pygmy chiefs undermining two clans is not correct.

Analyzing the future harmony of the clan, Issa says their descendants quarrel very often, especially when alcohol is involved. Makubasi and Issa have the heavy task of resolving the conflicts among they young clan members.

How the group shall evolve in terms of mutual respect unity and land use will have responses in the future.

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