PERCEPTION OF HUNTING, GATHERING AND FISHING TECHNIQUES OF THE BAKOLA OF THE COASTAL REGION, SOUTHERN CAMEROON

Abstract

While the BaKola (sin. Nkola) are known as one of the "Pygmy" groups in the forest regions of central Africa, their subsistence activities have not yet been described in details, unlike other groups of "Pygmies" in the central African region. This paper is thus to present the basic data on their tools and techniques for hunting, gathering and fishing, and on the social representations of these techniques, and to examines the reasons why up to the 21st century they have been maintaining their distinctive lifestyle as hunter-gatherers, through analyzing their roles played and the symbolism represented by their activities in the multi-ethnic local community of the coastal region of southern Cameroon. In particular, it demonstrates that their trade, gift-exchanges, important rituals, and other aspects of their social and economic life are based on the three major traditional activities, hunting, gathering and fishing.