• Africa,  African Great Lakes,  Indigenous People,  The Mbote Twa

    The Mongo Twa

    The Mongo Twa are a subgroup of the Twa people, a small indigenous group living in the swamp forests of western Congo. Specifically, they reside north and west of Lake Tumba and between Tumba and Lake Mai-Ndombe. The Mongo Twa are part of a broader network of hunter-gatherer societies that maintain a patron-client relationship with agricultural Bantu peoples in central and southern Africa. In their case, the Mongo Twa interact primarily with the Mongo tribes, including the Ntomba, Lia (Bolia), and Konda. Traditionally, the Mongo Twa are known for their hunting and gathering lifestyle, which is well-suited to the swampy and marshy environment in which they live. The rainy season,…

  • Africa,  African Great Lakes,  Indigenous People,  The Mbote Twa

    The Mbote Twa

    The Mbote Twa, also known as the Southeastern Twa, are an indigenous people living in the southeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and parts of neighboring countries, such as Uganda and Rwanda. The Twa are one of the many Batwa groups found in Central Africa, and they are renowned for their distinct cultural practices and traditional lifestyles. Historically, the Twa have been hunter-gatherers, relying on their deep knowledge of the forest to sustain their communities. They traditionally lived in the dense rainforests of the Albertine Rift, where they foraged for food, hunted game, and gathered medicinal plants. Their close relationship with the forest is reflected in…