Baka: People of the Rainforest

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0:00:05 > 0:00:07BIRDSONG

0:00:07 > 0:00:08MAN SINGING

0:00:36 > 0:00:38PANPIPE MUSIC

0:00:41 > 0:00:43The heart of Africa.

0:00:45 > 0:00:50Below the clouds lie the rainforests of south-east Cameroon,

0:00:50 > 0:00:52home of the Baka.

0:01:18 > 0:01:20MAN CONTINUES HUMMING

0:01:34 > 0:01:37The Baka left camp this morning.

0:01:37 > 0:01:41For the last three months, they have been on a journey through the forest,

0:01:41 > 0:01:42hunting and gathering.

0:01:51 > 0:01:55Travelling with the group is a family.

0:01:55 > 0:01:58This story is about their life in the rainforest.

0:02:06 > 0:02:08THEY TALK IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE

0:02:13 > 0:02:14BIRDSONG

0:02:18 > 0:02:21Likano is Ali's father.

0:02:28 > 0:02:30Ali is four years old.

0:02:30 > 0:02:33His brother, Yeye, is eight.

0:02:33 > 0:02:36Their mother, Deni, is in her early 20s.

0:02:41 > 0:02:43Likano has been married before.

0:02:43 > 0:02:47Now, at 40, he's the second oldest of all the men.

0:03:17 > 0:03:21Not far away, the rest of Likano's village have settled

0:03:21 > 0:03:24and are thinking of setting up camp for the night.

0:04:27 > 0:04:30The three-month journey through the forest has been tiring.

0:04:32 > 0:04:35Today's camp will be the last before the Baka reach home.

0:05:18 > 0:05:22Within an hour or so, the frameworks are ready for roofing.

0:06:14 > 0:06:17The shelters will only be used for a night or two,

0:06:17 > 0:06:20but they're strong enough to keep out the heaviest storm.

0:06:44 > 0:06:46It's always like this.

0:06:46 > 0:06:49The women establish camp after a few hours' walk,

0:06:49 > 0:06:50while the men look for food.

0:06:53 > 0:06:55THEY GRUNT WITH EXERTION

0:06:57 > 0:07:02Close by, Likano and the other men are breaking open a termite mound.

0:07:02 > 0:07:04They're after winged termites,

0:07:04 > 0:07:07which are gathered in the top of the mound.

0:07:30 > 0:07:34The smoke is stopping the termites retreating underground.

0:07:46 > 0:07:48They're not all edible.

0:07:48 > 0:07:51The bites of the defending termites are painful.

0:07:54 > 0:07:57The winged termites are plump and full of protein,

0:07:57 > 0:07:59with a taste like raw egg.

0:08:08 > 0:08:12Camps are always established within easy reach of rivers.

0:08:36 > 0:08:37LAUGHTER

0:08:45 > 0:08:48Many of the trees and vines of the forest contain poisons.

0:08:48 > 0:08:52The Baka have an intimate knowledge of these plants

0:08:52 > 0:08:53and how to use them.

0:09:00 > 0:09:04The chemicals in these vines are Rotenones.

0:09:04 > 0:09:08To release them, the creepers have to be beaten into a pulp.

0:09:19 > 0:09:20SHOUTING

0:09:34 > 0:09:37By rinsing the pulp into the fast-flowing water,

0:09:37 > 0:09:40the chemicals are dispersed into the river.

0:09:57 > 0:10:01The river flows into a small patch of savannah.

0:10:01 > 0:10:04It's too wet for rainforest to grow here

0:10:04 > 0:10:07and so these open areas are dominated by palms.

0:10:12 > 0:10:16The chemicals which have dissolved into the river are not poisonous.

0:10:16 > 0:10:20Instead, they deprive the fish of oxygen.

0:10:20 > 0:10:22Unable to breathe, they float to the surface.

0:10:42 > 0:10:44SHE SHRIEKS

0:10:54 > 0:10:56SHE SHRIEKS

0:11:55 > 0:11:59At the camp, the women are setting off to gather fruits.

0:11:59 > 0:12:04It is only during the rainy season that the Baka come this far into the forest.

0:12:04 > 0:12:07They've come in search of feki fruit.

0:12:07 > 0:12:10Its seeds are rich in oil.

0:12:15 > 0:12:18Every rainy season for thousands of years,

0:12:18 > 0:12:21the Baka have come to collect fruit in this way.

0:12:35 > 0:12:38It's almost the end of the rainy season

0:12:38 > 0:12:41and much of the feki fruit has already been gathered.

0:12:41 > 0:12:44Those fruits still left on the trees

0:12:44 > 0:12:47are a rich source of food for gorillas.

0:12:47 > 0:12:51To get at them, they will climb 30 metres or more into the canopy.

0:13:07 > 0:13:09Adults like these can weigh 200 kilos.

0:13:13 > 0:13:17These are the animals the Baka fear most in the forest.

0:13:46 > 0:13:49Elephants also roam the forest here.

0:13:50 > 0:13:54Many fruits like feki must pass through an elephant's stomach

0:13:54 > 0:13:56to have a better chance of germinating.

0:13:59 > 0:14:03Large mammals and large birds, like this giant hornbills,

0:14:03 > 0:14:07give the rainforest here its special character.

0:14:07 > 0:14:11They too are essential, dispersing the seeds which will become

0:14:11 > 0:14:13the next generation of the forest.

0:14:43 > 0:14:47Back at the camp, the women are already preparing the fruits.

0:14:53 > 0:14:55THEY CHAT AMONGST THEMSELVES

0:15:25 > 0:15:29The seeds are crushed to provide a precious oily paste.

0:15:29 > 0:15:33This will be used for cooking in the months to come.

0:15:55 > 0:16:02For centuries, the Baka have been called pygmies by the outside world.

0:16:02 > 0:16:04It's a name they dislike.

0:16:04 > 0:16:07Most of the people here are well under five feet fall

0:16:07 > 0:16:11but in the forest, and to the Baka, their size is irrelevant.

0:16:43 > 0:16:44MAMMAL CALLS OUT

0:16:57 > 0:17:01The calls piercing the darkness are those of the tree hyrax.

0:17:26 > 0:17:30A giant pangolin visits the same termite mound

0:17:30 > 0:17:33that the Baka raided earlier in the day.

0:18:24 > 0:18:25HE SINGS

0:18:29 > 0:18:31CHILDREN BEGIN TO SING

0:18:34 > 0:18:35RHYTHMIC CLAPPING

0:18:52 > 0:18:54GROUP SINGING CONTINUES

0:19:37 > 0:19:39HE HUMS PERCUSSIVELY

0:20:37 > 0:20:41Such tales are only told deep in the forest.

0:20:41 > 0:20:44They are important for the children's education.

0:22:48 > 0:22:49THUNDER CLAPS

0:24:44 > 0:24:46SHE LAUGHS

0:25:18 > 0:25:20The dry season is beginning.

0:25:21 > 0:25:25Ahead lie ten hours of walking before reaching home.

0:25:48 > 0:25:49MAN MIMICS GORILLA SOUND

0:26:31 > 0:26:35This was told to Likano by his father.

0:26:35 > 0:26:38Knowledge of the forest is often handed down in this way.

0:27:07 > 0:27:09HE REPEATS HIS FATHER

0:27:17 > 0:27:19HE REPEATS HIS FATHER'S WORDS

0:27:35 > 0:27:36HE MIMICS CHIMP

0:27:54 > 0:27:55LAUGHTER

0:28:04 > 0:28:06THEY SHRIEK AND LAUGH

0:28:14 > 0:28:16LAUGHTER

0:28:38 > 0:28:40LAUGHTER

0:28:46 > 0:28:49Home is a permanent village still deep in the forest

0:28:49 > 0:28:52and ten miles from the nearest mud road.

0:28:52 > 0:28:57Deni and Likano share this village with 20 or so members of their extended family.

0:28:57 > 0:29:04Here the local Konabembe villagers bring metal goods and clothes from the outside world.

0:29:06 > 0:29:10These are traded with the Baka for meat from the forest,

0:29:10 > 0:29:14and for occasional work on nearby Konabembe plantations.

0:29:18 > 0:29:20Although they speak different languages,

0:29:20 > 0:29:23they can easily understand each other.

0:29:27 > 0:29:29The Baka have never been truly isolated

0:29:29 > 0:29:33and have always relied on local villagers for non-forest goods.

0:29:33 > 0:29:37But visits from the outside world are just a diversion

0:29:37 > 0:29:39from a daily life still focussed on the forest.

0:29:39 > 0:29:45As the dry season progresses, the Baka are becoming increasingly interested

0:29:45 > 0:29:47in the activity of the honey bee.

0:29:56 > 0:29:58Guards protect the entrance.

0:30:03 > 0:30:05Returning bees are bringing information back

0:30:05 > 0:30:08about the first flowers of the dry season.

0:30:08 > 0:30:10In the darkness of the nest,

0:30:10 > 0:30:12the dance of the arriving bee tells the others

0:30:12 > 0:30:14exactly where to find the flowers.

0:30:28 > 0:30:32From the interior of the nest, bees fly far across the canopy,

0:30:32 > 0:30:35straight to the flowers.

0:30:53 > 0:30:57Honey bees are the most important pollinators here.

0:30:58 > 0:31:00From every corner of the forest,

0:31:00 > 0:31:02nectar and pollen are carried back to the nest.

0:31:10 > 0:31:13Here, pollen is stored.

0:31:13 > 0:31:16Red from the feki fruit, yellow from the njaya.

0:31:18 > 0:31:21The combs reflect the flowers in the forest.

0:31:22 > 0:31:24Incoming nectar is given to house bees...

0:31:26 > 0:31:28..who transform it into honey.

0:31:39 > 0:31:42It is this honey that the Baka are now looking for.

0:31:42 > 0:31:46To find the nest, Likano turns to the forest for help.

0:32:13 > 0:32:18The honey prayer will sharpen his ability to see and hear the bees.

0:32:49 > 0:32:51The forehead is the centre of luck.

0:33:12 > 0:33:14BABY CRIES

0:33:18 > 0:33:21Future hunters also need the help of the forest.

0:33:27 > 0:33:31Deni is preparing a medicine from the heartwood of the ngele tree.

0:33:39 > 0:33:43Sand is used as an abrasive to create a red paste.

0:33:45 > 0:33:48It's to make Ali grow up big and strong.

0:33:57 > 0:33:58ALI CRIES

0:34:13 > 0:34:16Soap comes naturally from certain leaves.

0:34:45 > 0:34:49Washing is important before applying the medicine.

0:35:28 > 0:35:31It's important to look after children in the forest.

0:35:31 > 0:35:34Illness and death can strike suddenly.

0:35:34 > 0:35:36Many a child is lost in infancy.

0:35:50 > 0:35:52DISTANT CHATTER AND LAUGHTER

0:36:07 > 0:36:11Yusa has been treating this ulcerous sore on Batanga's leg

0:36:11 > 0:36:12for a few days now.

0:36:20 > 0:36:22Batanga is her grandson...

0:36:23 > 0:36:27..and Babu, her son.

0:37:01 > 0:37:05Yusa is renowned for her knowledge of forest medicines.

0:37:33 > 0:37:36Likano often tells of how he married Deni.

0:37:36 > 0:37:39His first wife left him but before she went, she chose Deni,

0:37:39 > 0:37:42then a young girl, as her replacement.

0:38:05 > 0:38:07Night can be a good time to look for honey.

0:38:10 > 0:38:13Honey bees are active at the nest well before dawn.

0:38:17 > 0:38:20The earliest foragers leave by the light of the full moon

0:38:20 > 0:38:23in search of flowers high in the canopy.

0:38:25 > 0:38:27The first bee has arrived.

0:38:30 > 0:38:35Below, Likano and Babu have been waiting for the flowers to talk.

0:38:37 > 0:38:40A tree talking is a tree humming with bees.

0:38:40 > 0:38:43By listening to the sound of the retuning bees,

0:38:43 > 0:38:46they can discover the direction of the nest.

0:39:11 > 0:39:14The light of dawn reveals the site of the nest,

0:39:14 > 0:39:16high in the canopy.

0:39:21 > 0:39:24Two more men arrive from the village.

0:39:24 > 0:39:28Mewunga is Likano's brother-in-law and he is to climb.

0:39:29 > 0:39:32The nest is 40 metres above the forest floor.

0:39:32 > 0:39:35Very few Baka would attempt a climb like this.

0:39:44 > 0:39:48Mewunga is using a special vine to help him climb.

0:39:57 > 0:40:02By cutting tiny foot-holds, he will slowly inch his way up the tree.

0:40:02 > 0:40:05The climb will take several hours.

0:40:31 > 0:40:36Not far from the village, a Golden Cat has killed an antelope.

0:40:36 > 0:40:39The cat is elusive and seldom seen by the Baka.

0:41:12 > 0:41:17The women left the village at dawn to come dam fishing.

0:41:30 > 0:41:31LAUGHTER

0:41:38 > 0:41:41It is only the women who fish in this way.

0:41:49 > 0:41:51INDISTINCT CHATTERING

0:41:55 > 0:42:00Below the dam, the remaining water is scooped further downstream.

0:42:05 > 0:42:08Dams must be constantly reinforced.

0:42:27 > 0:42:30Deni is several months pregnant

0:42:30 > 0:42:34but it doesn't stop her working as hard as the other women.

0:42:34 > 0:42:37As the water recedes, the fish retreat under rocks.

0:43:02 > 0:43:06Many fish lie dormant during the dry season and have to be dug out

0:43:06 > 0:43:09from deep in the mud below the banks of the river.

0:43:18 > 0:43:22Hunger has driven the cat back to its kill.

0:43:43 > 0:43:46Deni is teasing Malenge, her step-daughter,

0:43:46 > 0:43:50about Babu, who wants to take her as his second wife.

0:44:47 > 0:44:49The cat poses no real danger to the women,

0:44:49 > 0:44:51but it's a relief when it's gone.

0:44:52 > 0:44:55LAUGHTER

0:45:19 > 0:45:22They are off to find out how the climb for honey is going.

0:45:23 > 0:45:27BANGS ECHO

0:45:39 > 0:45:43Mewunga is already some 30 metres above the forest floor.

0:47:13 > 0:47:16In the nest, thousands of stinging bees

0:47:16 > 0:47:19pose a serious threat to Mewunga's life.

0:47:21 > 0:47:24Before he climbs any higher, he must have the protection

0:47:24 > 0:47:26of a smoking bundle of leaves.

0:48:07 > 0:48:11At this height, a single slip means death.

0:48:11 > 0:48:15Last year, two men were killed climbing trees for honey.

0:48:38 > 0:48:41BUZZING

0:48:51 > 0:48:55Mewunga stuffs bark scrapings containing cyanide compounds

0:48:55 > 0:48:59- into the nest... - BUZZING

0:48:59 > 0:49:02..followed by the smoking leaves.

0:49:02 > 0:49:04This stuns the bees,

0:49:04 > 0:49:07who in their panic, gorge themselves on honey

0:49:07 > 0:49:08and become lethargic.

0:49:21 > 0:49:23Mewunga is not stung once.

0:49:44 > 0:49:48The nest has to be hacked open to get at the comb inside.

0:50:08 > 0:50:12Mewunga is completely confident working at this height.

0:50:14 > 0:50:18The honey basket has to be hauled over 40 metres.

0:51:07 > 0:51:10SHOUTING

0:52:07 > 0:52:1115 kilos of honey is lowered to the crowd below.

0:52:22 > 0:52:25Honeyguides feed on beeswax and are never far away

0:52:25 > 0:52:27when there's honey around.

0:52:56 > 0:52:59Honey is the ultimate gift of the forest

0:52:59 > 0:53:03and very little of it will return to the village.

0:53:14 > 0:53:17HUMMING

0:53:59 > 0:54:04EXCITED SHOUTING

0:54:14 > 0:54:17The children have found a colony of roosting bats.

0:54:32 > 0:54:35Malenge is Likano's daughter.

0:55:11 > 0:55:14In the village, there's a row developing

0:55:14 > 0:55:17between Likano, Malenge's father, and Babu,

0:55:17 > 0:55:19who wants to take her as his second wife.

0:56:05 > 0:56:09In the forest, the children have returned to their play village.

0:56:59 > 0:57:03The children often catch mice as well as bats.

0:57:03 > 0:57:06These are important extra sources of protein for them.

0:57:18 > 0:57:23Likano is not well and will not let the matter rest.

0:57:57 > 0:58:02As an elder of the village, Mode's feelings are respected.

0:58:56 > 0:58:58LAUGHTER

0:59:20 > 0:59:23SINGING

1:00:09 > 1:00:11Honeybees have descended on

1:00:11 > 1:00:14the scattered combs left from the honey climb.

1:00:17 > 1:00:20BUZZING

1:00:34 > 1:00:38All available honey is taken back to the shattered remnants of the nest.

1:00:40 > 1:00:44Forest bees are often reluctant to desert a raided nest.

1:00:44 > 1:00:48In time, this one will be completely rebuilt.

1:01:05 > 1:01:09Other animals also take advantage of the spoils of the honey climb.

1:01:24 > 1:01:28A honey badger is quick to seize such an opportunity.

1:01:31 > 1:01:33Although it's quite capable of

1:01:33 > 1:01:36tackling a bees' nest with its massive claws,

1:01:36 > 1:01:41the honey badger readily scavenges on these combs left by the Baka.

1:01:58 > 1:02:02DRUMMING

1:02:05 > 1:02:08CHANTING

1:02:15 > 1:02:17The fire dance.

1:02:19 > 1:02:22Likano has now been feeling ill for some time.

1:02:24 > 1:02:27The village is uniting in an effort to heal him.

1:02:35 > 1:02:37SINGING

1:02:49 > 1:02:51A machete is heated in the fire.

1:02:58 > 1:03:02As the diviner rubs his foot on the red-hot machete,

1:03:02 > 1:03:04there is a strong smell of burning flesh.

1:03:11 > 1:03:14The healing heat is transferred to Likano's body.

1:03:20 > 1:03:24SINGING

1:03:59 > 1:04:01Even during the most serious ceremonies,

1:04:01 > 1:04:04there is an undercurrent of irreverence.

1:04:04 > 1:04:10SINGING AND DRUMMING

1:04:20 > 1:04:21Away from the dance,

1:04:21 > 1:04:25seeds from a struthanthus vine are being prepared.

1:04:25 > 1:04:28They contain strong cardiac alkaloids.

1:04:28 > 1:04:32Babu is preparing arrow poison from them.

1:04:35 > 1:04:39Babu wants nothing to do with Likano and his illness.

1:04:41 > 1:04:44BABU TALKS QUIETLY

1:04:44 > 1:04:48Scrapings from this vine contain steroids.

1:04:52 > 1:04:57Despite the problems with Likano, his wife Nabo remains loyal.

1:05:13 > 1:05:16The shell of a giant snail is used to hold water which is

1:05:16 > 1:05:21filtered through the scrapings of the vine on to the crushed seeds.

1:05:29 > 1:05:32Sticky latex from a third plant binds it all together.

1:05:34 > 1:05:38SINGING AND DRUMMING

1:06:37 > 1:06:40SINGING AND DRUMMING

1:06:57 > 1:07:02An elder continues to work on Likano with the hot machete.

1:07:02 > 1:07:04SINGING AND DRUMMING

1:07:15 > 1:07:21BABU TALKS QUIETLY

1:07:29 > 1:07:32Flights for the arrows are made from dried leaves.

1:07:56 > 1:07:59The quiver has been made from the skin of an antelope.

1:08:08 > 1:08:11Babu will leave before dawn for the hunt.

1:08:15 > 1:08:20BIRDS CHIRP

1:08:27 > 1:08:33MONKEY CALLS

1:08:36 > 1:08:40BIRD SINGS

1:09:18 > 1:09:22HE WHISTLES

1:09:22 > 1:09:24Babu is imitating the call of a crowned eagle

1:09:24 > 1:09:27which preys on monkeys.

1:09:28 > 1:09:32MONKEY CALLS

1:09:50 > 1:09:54To protect his group, the male comes closer to investigate.

1:10:07 > 1:10:09MONKEY CALLS

1:10:23 > 1:10:27BIRD CALLS

1:10:29 > 1:10:34MONKEY CALLS

1:10:49 > 1:10:53BIRD CALLS

1:11:28 > 1:11:32Babu's mother Yusa is well known for her cure for infertility.

1:11:34 > 1:11:37This Konabembe woman has been unable to conceive

1:11:37 > 1:11:38and has come for treatment.

1:11:51 > 1:11:57Yusa has successfully treated friends of this woman in the past.

1:11:57 > 1:12:00The medicine is from small plant called njaya.

1:12:00 > 1:12:05Elsewhere in Africa, it is used to counter gonorrhoea.

1:13:35 > 1:13:38The affair is getting out of hand.

1:13:38 > 1:13:41Babu has long since given up on Malenge,

1:13:41 > 1:13:43but Likano, irritable because of his health,

1:13:43 > 1:13:48has now become obsessed by the idea that Babu has put a spell on him.

1:14:37 > 1:14:39There is a strong fear of sorcery.

1:14:39 > 1:14:44Often, an unexplained illness is put down to witchcraft.

1:14:47 > 1:14:51Babu is going to take the truth drug to prove his innocence.

1:14:54 > 1:14:58It will only kill the guilty.

1:15:02 > 1:15:06Meanwhile, the women are working in Deni's plantation.

1:15:09 > 1:15:13It is unusual for the Baka to grow their own bananas,

1:15:13 > 1:15:16but it has given them more independence

1:15:16 > 1:15:20from the local villagers who have traditionally supplied them.

1:15:20 > 1:15:23Bananas have long been their staple source of starch.

1:15:25 > 1:15:28WOMAN SINGS

1:15:35 > 1:15:39Both Babu and the scandal are taken less seriously by Malenge.

1:16:02 > 1:16:07Meanwhile, Babu has found a large Nbanda tree.

1:16:07 > 1:16:09Its bark contains a number of poisons,

1:16:09 > 1:16:11the source of the truth drug.

1:19:05 > 1:19:09The Baka are convinced that if Babu is guilty,

1:19:09 > 1:19:11he will die after taking the drug.

1:19:30 > 1:19:34It will be some time before the effects of the drug are known.

1:19:44 > 1:19:47THUNDER

1:19:47 > 1:19:51Distant thunder signals the end of the dry season.

1:20:19 > 1:20:21ANIMALS CALL

1:21:25 > 1:21:30The storm has failed to push this old silverback gorilla out of the canopy.

1:21:43 > 1:21:47He was ousted from his group and now lives a solitary life.

1:22:27 > 1:22:30CHOPPING

1:22:30 > 1:22:32In the local cocoa plantation,

1:22:32 > 1:22:36the Baka men are working for the Konabembe women,

1:22:36 > 1:22:40repaying the debt of the pots and pans.

1:22:43 > 1:22:46While the men work, Ali and Yeye raid a lemon tree.

1:25:03 > 1:25:06Jengi, the forest spirit, is coming.

1:25:06 > 1:25:10The boys are bringing his robes to the village.

1:25:10 > 1:25:12BOYS SING

1:25:43 > 1:25:46The poison has made Babu quite ill.

1:25:48 > 1:25:51It has taken him a long time to recover.

1:26:15 > 1:26:18BOYS SING

1:26:25 > 1:26:29The trauma of the scandal has deeply affected the Baka.

1:26:29 > 1:26:32For the first time in many years,

1:26:32 > 1:26:35Jengi, the most important of the forest spirits,

1:26:35 > 1:26:38is called upon to calm the troubled village.

1:26:38 > 1:26:41SINGING CONTINUES

1:26:58 > 1:27:01For the next few weeks, Dengbe will live here

1:27:01 > 1:27:02in his lair beyond the village,

1:27:02 > 1:27:06where only the men and older boys may go.

1:27:09 > 1:27:13Tonight, and every night for the next few weeks,

1:27:13 > 1:27:16he will come out to dance with the village.

1:27:25 > 1:27:28Deep in the forest, a woman is singing.

1:27:28 > 1:27:30WOMAN SINGS

1:27:42 > 1:27:45Her song casts a spell over the forest,

1:27:45 > 1:27:48making it receptive to the hunt.

1:27:53 > 1:27:54The hunt is for Dengbe -

1:27:54 > 1:27:57his appetite for meat has to be satisfied.

1:28:01 > 1:28:03BIRD CALLS

1:28:09 > 1:28:12They're on the trail of an antelope.

1:28:41 > 1:28:43MAN SHOUTS AND ANIMAL GROANS

1:28:43 > 1:28:46The men have killed, and far away the women sense it.

1:28:46 > 1:28:48WOMEN SING

1:29:18 > 1:29:20The response seems to be intuitive -

1:29:20 > 1:29:23they are too far away to have witnessed the kill.

1:29:39 > 1:29:41The sounds are of Dengbe demanding to be fed.

1:30:20 > 1:30:25Likano is still upset and cannot accept Babu's innocence.

1:31:57 > 1:32:00Yeye is trying to calm things.

1:32:00 > 1:32:03Her spitting blesses Likano.

1:32:10 > 1:32:13She insists that he takes this sedative

1:32:13 > 1:32:15made from the bark of a tree.

1:32:42 > 1:32:45Outside, Dengbe has left his lair.

1:32:46 > 1:32:48SCREAMING AND CHANTING

1:33:10 > 1:33:13Dengbe talks by blinking his eyelids.

1:33:13 > 1:33:16Babu interprets for the village.

1:33:40 > 1:33:43Dengbe is often ferocious, especially towards women.

1:33:48 > 1:33:50The men must protect them whenever he dances.

1:34:31 > 1:34:35From behind the safety of the barrier of men,

1:34:35 > 1:34:36the women taunt Dengbe.

1:35:23 > 1:35:26Dengbe's presence is also witness to another drama.

1:35:28 > 1:35:32Unexpectedly, Ali's mother felt her baby change position.

1:35:32 > 1:35:36Likano's worries are forgotten.

1:35:36 > 1:35:39She must be looked after.

1:35:49 > 1:35:54This medicine, always used during labour, contains plant oestrogens.

1:36:13 > 1:36:15Ali blesses the medicine.

1:37:09 > 1:37:14Dengbe returns to the forest, leaving the village calm.

1:38:04 > 1:38:07Her hands are no larger than a thumbnail.

1:38:08 > 1:38:14Her shoulders from tip to tip, the size of a little finger.

1:38:18 > 1:38:22Ali is distraught.

1:38:22 > 1:38:25The baby has taken his place beside his mother.

1:40:06 > 1:40:11Ali's sister, born into the world of the Baka.

1:40:12 > 1:40:16The first sounds she hears are those of her people...

1:40:16 > 1:40:18her village...

1:40:19 > 1:40:21..her forest.

1:40:24 > 1:40:28Her people are the people of the rainforest.

1:41:00 > 1:41:02SOOTHING STRING MUSIC

1:41:51 > 1:41:53HE SINGS

1:41:58 > 1:41:59Several weeks later,

1:41:59 > 1:42:03and Ali is adjusting to his new place in the family.

1:42:36 > 1:42:38THEY HUM TOGETHER

1:43:05 > 1:43:07HE SINGS

1:44:42 > 1:44:45Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd