Diversity and Similarity Relating to Plant Knowledge among Baka Hunter-Gatherers in Southeast Cameroon

Abstract

This paper examines the characteristics of traditional plant knowledge, focusing on inter-individual differences among the Baka hunter-gatherers in the Cameroonian rainforest. An analysis of inter-individual differences demonstrated that Baka adults generally know the common vernacular names of plants, especially those of trees, and have a similar knowledge of plants used for food and material culture. However, they had widely varying degrees of knowledge about medicinal plants. While they can easily share evaluations of the properties of plants used for food and material culture, they cannot share evaluations of the effects of medicinal plants. They have numerous opportunities to share knowledge of plants used for food and material culture in social settings. In contrast, they have fewer opportunities to share medicinal plant knowledge in their social lives because they use medicinal plants mainly within the family. These tendencies may account for the diversity and similarity with regard to plant knowledge among the Baka. An analysis of the acquisition of medicinal plant knowledge showed that the Baka acquired knowledge about medicinal plants from their parents and other family members when they or their children became sick. This suggests that the Baka adults' medicinal plant knowledge reflects their individual and family medical histories.