Social Learning Among Congo Basin Hunter–Gatherers*

This paper explores childhood social learning among Aka and Bofi hunter–gatherers in Central Africa. Existing literature suggests that hunter–gatherer social learning is primarily vertical (parent-to-child) and that teaching is rare. We use behavioural observations, open-ended and semi-structured interviews, and informal and anecdotal observations to examine the modes (e.g. vertical versus horizontal/oblique) and processes (e.g. teaching versus observation and imitation) of cultural transmission. Cultural and demographic contexts of social learning associated with the modes and processes of cultural transmission are described. Hunter–gatherer social learning occurred early, was relatively rapid, primarily vertical under age 5 and oblique and horizontal between the ages of 6 and 12. Pedagogy and other forms of teaching existed as early as 12 months of age, but were relatively infrequent by comparison to other processes of social learning such as observation and imitation.

Download Full-text

Culturally Appropriate Solutions to Fieldwork Challenges among Mbendjele BaYaka Hunter-Gatherers of the Congo Basin

The Secret Lives of Anthropologists ◽

10.4324/9781315144580-7 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 112-132

Author(s):

Daša Bombjaková

Keyword(s):

Congo Basin ◽

Culturally Appropriate ◽

Hunter Gatherers

Download Full-text

Development of social learning and play in BaYaka hunter-gatherers of Congo

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-47515-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Gul Deniz Salali ◽

Nikhil Chaudhary ◽

Jairo Bouer ◽

James Thompson ◽

Lucio Vinicius ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Learning ◽

Hunter Gatherers

Download Full-text

Future Discounting in Congo Basin Hunter-Gatherers Declines with Socio-Economic Transitions

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0137806 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. e0137806 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Gul Deniz Salali ◽

Andrea Bamberg Migliano

Keyword(s):

Congo Basin ◽

Hunter Gatherers ◽

Future Discounting ◽

Economic Transitions

Download Full-text

Is there more to human social learning than enhanced facilitation? Prolonged learning and its impact on culture

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications ◽

10.1057/s41599-021-00829-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Csilla Dallos

Keyword(s):

Social Learning ◽

Informal Learning ◽

Skill Acquisition ◽

Hunter Gatherers ◽

Recent Scholarship ◽

Cultural Processes ◽

Creativity And Innovation ◽

Facilitated Learning ◽

Exclusive Focus

AbstractRecent scholarship has sought to understand culture by studying attributes of social learning. While celebrating the role of pedagogy and other forms of facilitated learning in human cultural uniqueness, these studies have neglected instances of restricted and prolonged knowledge and skill acquisition. This article analyses illustrative cases of such learning in the ethnographic literature to assess their implications for cultural processes and products. Combined evidence from formal apprenticeship and the informal learning of hunter-gatherers indicates that though enhanced facilitation of learning is undeniable, an exclusive focus on it has resulted in a flawed concept of human culture and its social context. The cases cited suggest that mechanisms to extend learning constitute a vital source of cultural creativity and innovation that should be considered in social learning and culture discussions.

Download Full-text

Vers une écologie linguistique des anciens chasseurs-cueilleurs du bassin central congolais

Anthropos ◽

10.5771/0257-9774-2021-1-137 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 116 (1) ◽

pp. 137-144

Author(s):

André Motingea Mangulu

Keyword(s):

Central African Republic ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Congo Basin ◽

Scientific Interest ◽

Hunter Gatherers ◽

Current State ◽

Linguistic Research ◽

The Status ◽

Southern Cameroon

The article attempts to provide some sociolinguistic information about the former Hunter-Gatherers of the Central Congo Basin in the hope that they could arouse the same scientific interest as that which was carried out on the Bambuti Pygmies of Ituri and Aka of the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and Southern Cameroon. It emerges that all the questions raised and discussed so far in relation to the status of the languages spoken by these latter Pygmy tribes, their structure and their genetic affiliation also apply to the Pygmies of the Central Congo Basin. Thus, the article addresses, first and foremost, the problem of their near and distant origins and their current sociolinguistic situation, before going on to review the current state of linguistic research. A subclassification is then sketched based on common phonetic, morphosyntactic, and lexical characteristics to their languages as well as the traditions collected by the colonial administration.

Download Full-text