Music-making in the bwete ritual
On the ambivalent relationship between Babɔngɔ Pygmies and their neighbours in the Chaillu mountains of Gabon
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3034985 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Magali De Ruyter (Laboratoire d'ethnologie et de sociologie comparative, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2016 |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 437-463 |
| Publication date | 2016-10-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Hunter Gatherer Research (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1476-4253 • E-ISSN: 2056-3264 |
| Publisher | Liverpool University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.3828/hgr.2016.29 |
| OpenAlex | W2735157979 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 9 |
In this paper I examine the relationship between the Babɔngɔ Pygmies of the Chaillu mountains of south-central Gabon, Africa, and their Mitsɔgɔ/Masangu neighbours as it is expressed in rituals and musical performances. I argue that this is an ambivalent relationship that both subordinates yet still includes the Babɔngɔ within the social sphere of their non-Pygmy neighbours. Drawing attention to the Babɔngɔ perspective on this relationship, I highlight that ambivalence also results from the Babɔngɔ belonging to two normative systems. I suggest that the ritual context – both in its mythological and performative aspect – offers an overall and clear perception of the Pygmies/neighbours relationship in the Chaillu mountains. Lastly, a brief comparison is drawn between Babɔngɔ and their neighbours and the relations that occur among other Pygmy groups of Central Africa and their neighbours
Art · Sociology · Visual arts · Archaeology and Rock Art Studies
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |