[Becoming sedentary, acculturation and infectious diseases: socio-ecological problems of the Bayaka Pygmies]

The falling of tropical rain forests in Equatorial Africa, and the subsequent penetration of Bantu hoe farmers into the former jungle regions are depriving the Pygmies of the basis for their traditional way of life as roaming hunters and gatherers. Most of the former roaming groups now live in permanent settlements near Bantu villages. But becoming sedentary and adapting to the habits of the Bantu have had catastrophic results for the Pygmies: today, this people suffers to a great extent from infectious diseases and animal parasites, which were once almost unknown among them. In particular, Yaws, a skin disease which is widespread in Africa affects whole tribes. With the loss of their cultural identity their social structure also collapses: formerly free Pygmies get employed as cheap labour on coffee plantations.