Buja in Congo, Democratic Republic of

Introduction / History

Deep in the forests of the western DRC, swamps and ponds teem with life. Here, the Budja people make their homes, planting small gardens with staples of yams and plantain to supplement their diet of abundant fish. Although local roads are sparse and largely impassable, the Congo River provides transport to markets. Some men travel by river to urban areas in search of more lucrative employment.

Life is simple, but not easy, among the Budja people. Underlying other religious professions, traditional beliefs assume that both good and bad events have spiritual causes addressed through appropriate prayers, sacrifices or ceremonial rituals.

As a matrilineal culture, Budja inheritance passes through the mother, and the matriarch is considered head of the family or clan. Traditional chiefs also play an important and highly respected role in Budja communities.

Budja families construct their homes of local materials and usually roof them with leaves or woven palm shingles. Besides fishing and gardening, to supplement both their diet and their income they gather forest products: wild game, snails, caterpillars, firewood, rattan vines, palm wine, palm nuts and palm oil.

Believers will have access to MP3 audio Scripture to share with neighbors and friends. The team expects pastors to use the translated Scripture for teaching and preaching. They also hope choirs will create songs from the translations, publicizing God's Word and memorizing and broadcasting it through music.

Text Source:   Anonymous