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Faces of the BaAka

by Luca Catalano Gonzaga

Suspended Balance on Peaks

Pakistan, 2025

Faces of Gilgit Baltistan

Pakistan, 2025

Guardians of the Forest

Central African Republic, 2025

Invisible Bonds

Central African Republic, 2025

Faces of the BaAka

Central African Republic, 2025

Rewilding Cervo Italico

Ferrara, Italy - 2024

These portraits, taken in front of or inside the BaAka huts, tell a story of extreme poverty but also of extraordinary dignity. The dwellings, small and simple structures built with natural materials found in the forest, are the daily refuge of a people who live in close contact with nature, far from the comforts of modern life. Despite the hardships and scarcity of resources, the faces of the BaAka reflect a quiet strength, a deep connection to their land and to the traditions they have passed down for generations.Every gaze carries stories of resilience, respect, and belonging.These images aim to celebrate their humanity and invite us to look beyond appearances, recognizing the dignity in every individual, regardless of material conditions. This reportage, part of a larger project called Wildlife and Community Survival, is promoted by Witness Image, funded by the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation.(Text by Luca Catalano Gonzaga).

Mossapoula village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Aingo Regis, 62, is one of the village elders, guardian of oral traditions and ritual songs passed down through generations.
Mossapoula village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Aingo Regis, 62, is one of the village elders, guardian of oral traditions and ritual songs passed down through generations.
Yondo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Elaine Aussa, 21, with her son. Motherhood often begins early, supported by the care of the entire community.
Yondo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Elaine Aussa, 21, with her son. Motherhood often begins early, supported by the care of the entire community.
Batali village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Lena Younga, 33 years old, with her youngest child. Women in the community typically give birth to six or seven children, often without access to healthcare, support, or contraception, trapped in a cycle of vulnerability.
Batali village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Lena Younga, 33 years old, with her youngest child. Women in the community typically give birth to six or seven children, often without access to healthcare, support, or contraception, trapped in a cycle of vulnerability.
Babongo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Lidy Gana, 71. BaAka elders preserve the group’s collective memory and pass down myths, survival skills, and ritual songs through oral tradition.
Babongo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Lidy Gana, 71. BaAka elders preserve the group’s collective memory and pass down myths, survival skills, and ritual songs through oral tradition.
Yondo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Angeline Manda, 21, moves daily with her community to hunt, gather fruits, honey, and medicinal plants, maintaining an ancestral way of life deeply connected to nature.
Yondo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Angeline Manda, 21, moves daily with her community to hunt, gather fruits, honey, and medicinal plants, maintaining an ancestral way of life deeply connected to nature.
Yandoumbe village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Iya Monic, 15. Grow up closely connected to nature, learning through direct experience and the shared life of the village.
Yandoumbe village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Iya Monic, 15. Grow up closely connected to nature, learning through direct experience and the shared life of the village.
Yondo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Saniba Edje, 28, with her daughter. Knowledge is passed down through daily gestures, shared across generations in a close relationship with the forest.
Yondo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Saniba Edje, 28, with her daughter. Knowledge is passed down through daily gestures, shared across generations in a close relationship with the forest.
Batali village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Omier Bendoumi, 9 years old. He lives in a mongulu shared with his entire family, without clean water or access to electricity, his childhood marked by hardship and exclusion.
Batali village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Omier Bendoumi, 9 years old. He lives in a mongulu shared with his entire family, without clean water or access to electricity, his childhood marked by hardship and exclusion.
Yondo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Eric Vivite, 11 years old. In Baaka villages, there are no schools, and children like him grow up with no educational opportunities, excluded from a system that continues to overlook them.
Yondo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Eric Vivite, 11 years old. In Baaka villages, there are no schools, and children like him grow up with no educational opportunities, excluded from a system that continues to overlook them.
Yondo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Lidi Nadoky, 14. Adolescence marks the start of collective activities such as gathering, fishing, and food preparation.
Yondo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Lidi Nadoky, 14. Adolescence marks the start of collective activities such as gathering, fishing, and food preparation.
Babongo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Catherine Osso, 42, gathers edible plants and builds huts, passing on traditional forest knowledge.
Babongo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Catherine Osso, 42, gathers edible plants and builds huts, passing on traditional forest knowledge.
Yondo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Poline Salon, 16. Among the BaAka, material poverty is extreme, they own almost nothing and live off the forest and a few items acquired through barter.
Yondo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Poline Salon, 16. Among the BaAka, material poverty is extreme, they own almost nothing and live off the forest and a few items acquired through barter.
Mossapoula village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Indolou Ojokoua, 8 years old. He lives in a dark hut made of branches and mud, with no electricity or education—his future remains uncertain, like that of many other children in his community.
Mossapoula village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Indolou Ojokoua, 8 years old. He lives in a dark hut made of branches and mud, with no electricity or education—his future remains uncertain, like that of many other children in his community.
Batali village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Blandinè Mamoli, 17 years old, with her child. Becoming a mother at a young age means facing enormous responsibilities without any support, in a setting where healthcare, sexual education, and social protection are absent.
Batali village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Blandinè Mamoli, 17 years old, with her child. Becoming a mother at a young age means facing enormous responsibilities without any support, in a setting where healthcare, sexual education, and social protection are absent.
Babongo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Loucie Ama, 23 years old, with her son. She lives in a hut made of mud and branches, without access to healthcare, electricity, or clean water, facing motherhood alone in extremely fragile conditions.
Babongo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Loucie Ama, 23 years old, with her son. She lives in a hut made of mud and branches, without access to healthcare, electricity, or clean water, facing motherhood alone in extremely fragile conditions.
Yandoumbe village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Aimè Zomela, 32 years old, with his son. Like the other men in the village, he enters the forest each day to hunt, gather honey, or collect firewood, the only way to keep his family alive in the total absence of external support.
Yandoumbe village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Aimè Zomela, 32 years old, with his son. Like the other men in the village, he enters the forest each day to hunt, gather honey, or collect firewood, the only way to keep his family alive in the total absence of external support.
Batali village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Mira Koncia, 36. BaAka women play a central role in the community, passing on knowledge, raising children collectively, and leading many daily activities.
Batali village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Mira Koncia, 36. BaAka women play a central role in the community, passing on knowledge, raising children collectively, and leading many daily activities.
Mossapoula village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Ancrella Boni, 17. Girls often marry between the ages of 14 and 16, taking on responsibilities and passing down knowledge from an early age.
Mossapoula village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Ancrella Boni, 17. Girls often marry between the ages of 14 and 16, taking on responsibilities and passing down knowledge from an early age.
Yandoumbe village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Margaret Kyem, 63 years old. She preserves the oral memory of the village and passes on ancient knowledge to younger generations—wisdom tied to the forest, care, and survival.
Yandoumbe village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Margaret Kyem, 63 years old. She preserves the oral memory of the village and passes on ancient knowledge to younger generations—wisdom tied to the forest, care, and survival.
Yandoumbe village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Ibrahim Walin, 61 years old. For decades he has lived in a mongulu, a hut of branches and leaves typical of his culture—without comfort or services, a testament to institutional neglect.
Yandoumbe village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Ibrahim Walin, 61 years old. For decades he has lived in a mongulu, a hut of branches and leaves typical of his culture—without comfort or services, a testament to institutional neglect.
Yandoumbe village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Paolo Clipe, 9. BaAka children grow up in freedom, taking part in village life from an early age and learning through play and experience.
Yandoumbe village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Paolo Clipe, 9. BaAka children grow up in freedom, taking part in village life from an early age and learning through play and experience.
Batali village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Nina Ndanga, 23, in front of a BaAka hut made of bent branches and palm leaves, typical of semi-nomadic forest dwellings.
Batali village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Nina Ndanga, 23, in front of a BaAka hut made of bent branches and palm leaves, typical of semi-nomadic forest dwellings.
Batali village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Olivia Bert, 22. Access to medical care is nearly nonexistent for the BaAka, who rely mostly on natural remedies passed down orally.
Batali village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Olivia Bert, 22. Access to medical care is nearly nonexistent for the BaAka, who rely mostly on natural remedies passed down orally.
Yandoumbe village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Limbè Julien, 20, with her son. Young mothers raise their children in close connection with the community and the nourishing forest around them.
Yandoumbe village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Limbè Julien, 20, with her son. Young mothers raise their children in close connection with the community and the nourishing forest around them.
Yondo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Isaac Odei, 41. He lives in extreme poverty, neglected by the authorities, where government support is entirely absent and survival relies solely on the forest.
Yondo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Isaac Odei, 41. He lives in extreme poverty, neglected by the authorities, where government support is entirely absent and survival relies solely on the forest.
Batali village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Naoemie Ekili, 9 years old. Like many girls her age, she helps her mother every day with household chores and caring for younger siblings, giving up her right to childhood and education.
Batali village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Naoemie Ekili, 9 years old. Like many girls her age, she helps her mother every day with household chores and caring for younger siblings, giving up her right to childhood and education.
Mossapoula village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Malanga Picheline, 23 years old. During the rainy season, she goes into the forest every day to gather mushrooms, like many women in her community, blending survival, traditional knowledge, and solidarity.
Mossapoula village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Malanga Picheline, 23 years old. During the rainy season, she goes into the forest every day to gather mushrooms, like many women in her community, blending survival, traditional knowledge, and solidarity.
Babongo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Augustina Ampomao, 41 years old. She lives in a hut of about three square meters, made of branches and leaves—a stark symbol of the extreme poverty affecting her community.
Babongo village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Augustina Ampomao, 41 years old. She lives in a hut of about three square meters, made of branches and leaves—a stark symbol of the extreme poverty affecting her community.
Mossapoula village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Ediala Essoko, 25, wears a traditional necklace; among the BaAka, ornaments and personal items express identity and group belonging.
Mossapoula village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Ediala Essoko, 25, wears a traditional necklace; among the BaAka, ornaments and personal items express identity and group belonging.
Mossapoula village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Job Kwabeng, 08 years old. A childhood marked by poverty and social invisibility.
Mossapoula village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Job Kwabeng, 08 years old. A childhood marked by poverty and social invisibility.
Yandoumbe village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Some women stand in the river, creating rhythms by striking the water with their hands: this is “Liquindi or water drum”, a traditional form of drumming performed only by women, used during festive moments or as spiritual preparation before hunting.
Yandoumbe village, Bayanga, Central African Republic. Some women stand in the river, creating rhythms by striking the water with their hands: this is “Liquindi or water drum”, a traditional form of drumming performed only by women, used during festive moments or as spiritual preparation before hunting.

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