Central Africa and the Faith of the Pygmies

Pygmäenmädchen

The forest peoples of central Africa have a strong faith. The forest is the source of their religion. They firmly believe that their god is present in the forest and expresses himself through the forest. Through rituals and prayers, they establish a personal connection to their god or their ancestors. They don’t have priests and no rules, everyone can perform religious rituals. The pygmies describe themselves as fire people. For fire is essential for their survival. That is why there are numerous prayers for good fire. They pray for a fire, which they spark at the bottom of a tree. They also say prayers before going hunting. The prayers are no predetermined lines but spontaneous conversations with god and the ancestors to thank them or ask them for help.