Friday, April 24, 2015

Post #9: Chapter 8

A basket of food near the central fireplace in the Pygmy camp is evidence of a kumamolimo, and that the god of the Forest was being invoked and was waiting nearby.

The Pygmies believe in a benevolent deity or supernatural being that they identify with the forest.

The act or matter in which a ritual is performed is not important to the Pygmies, but the thought that goes into it.

Upon first glance, the molimo is thought to be the concern of only men. However, women become involved in this ritual when they take part in the molimo upon reaching the age of puberty and womanhood.

*Observations*

The forest is the Pygmy's god. As such it is a supernatural being. Food is gathered from each hut and brought to the kumamolimo; this signals that the god of the Forest is being invoked, and is waiting nearby to eat the food offered. The Pygmies do not pay much attention to the way that a ritual is performed such as the villagers, but rather pay more attention to the thought that goes into it. While upon first glance the molimo is only meant for men to attend, women also take part in this ritual once they have reached womanhood. They sing and dance with as much fervor as the men.

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