Which peoples live in the Ituri Forest?

The inhabitants of the Ituri Forest are primarily categorized into two groups: nomadic hunter-gatherers and village-dwelling agriculturalists.1

The Bambuti (Pygmies)

The nomadic hunter-gatherers are collectively known as the Bambuti. They are divided into four distinct populations, each associated with specific agriculturalist tribes:2

• Sua: Associated with the Budu (Babudu) near Wamba.
• Aka: Found with the Mangbetu in the northwest.
• Efe: Distributed across the northern and eastern regions, associated with the Lese and Mamvu.
• Mbuti: Reside in the forest center with the Bila (Babila).

Agriculturalists

The village-dwelling populations are primarily Bantu-speaking peoples. These groups maintain a relationship of mutual interdependence with the Bambuti, exchanging agricultural goods—such as cloth, tools, and food—for forest resources like meat, honey, and wild plants.12

These groups are not isolated; they frequently share languages and customs, reflecting a long-standing history of social and economic cooperation within the forest environment.1