Lucía Fonts Santana, a Spanish Comboni missionary, dedicates herself full time to the study of the Aka language and culture to better serve this ancient people. T

The Aka are a nomadic Mbenga pygmy people residing in the south-western Central African Republic. Studying the Aka language is not easy; it is particularly challenging due to the absence of manuals or teachers. I endeavour at least to communicate in a basic manner. My effort to comprehend their ancestral beliefs and deepest aspirations is met with great joy and surprise by my Aka brothers and sisters. 

Walking barefoot on the paths they know deeply in the forest allows me to view the world through their eyes. It is both wondrous and exhilarating, serving as a constant learning experience for me. The Lord calls me to humble myself alongside them, to discover the greatness within them. May they too see themselves through my eyes and realise that they are creatures deeply loved by God, deserving of respect and being listened to like any other human being on earth.

I feel immensely supported by my sisters and by the bishop of our diocese, Monsignor Jesús Ruiz Molina, who, following his appointment as bishop, established the Diocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of the Aka, of which I am a member.

One of the activities we conducted as a commission this year was the inaugural Aka People’s Day. The Pygmies demonstrated in front of the town hall with the slogan: “We Aka are the guardians of the forest.” It was a massive and unprecedented event. The Pygmies chanted loudly throughout the march, calling for an end to the massive deforestation of the region.

Thanks to the preparatory discussions we held in their camps, they have become more aware of the accelerating destruction caused by logging companies and gold and diamond mines. They understand that the forest is the home that sustains them, providing life and food, and they have recognised their role in preserving the biodiversity of this fragile ecosystem. It was an unforgettable day, filled with joy, as they celebrated their identity through traditional dances and games, culminating in a simple lunch for everyone at the parish.

Another initiative of the commission was the launch of a new programme on the diocesan radio, particularly dedicated to the Aka. We interviewed the Pygmies to give them a voice, enabling them to denounce the abuses they endure from the Bantu, especially in the trade of highly sought-after products such as butterfly larvae (makongo) and wild edible leaves (coconut).

We also allowed them to express the importance of cultivating the land and of being less dependent on the increasingly scarce products they gather from the forest. We believe that if the Pygmies encourage one another, we can achieve lasting change. The work ahead is both immense and exciting.