At the other end of the spectrum are the pygmies. Pygmies are not to be confused with dwarfs. Pygmies "are properly a member of one of certainsmall-sized peoples of Africa and Asia, but the word is often used imprecisely to mean dwarf or midget," according to dictionary.com. The word dwarf actually means, "someone checked in growth or stunted, or in some way not normally formed."
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Many pygmy cultures in Africa and Asia are completely unheard of. The average adult pygmy height is 4 feet and 11 inches. Most pygmy cultures, however prefer their ethnic name, such as the Aka pygmy group. The Aka group is a nomadic tribe, like pygmy cultures are traditionally. Many live in the areas of Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea and have market relationships with nearby tribes.
They usually live in small huts made of branches and leaves, typically called a mongulu. Most pygmies are hunting and gathering tribes and many hunting techniques have symbolic meaning or traditions attached to them, such as the big elephant hunt. As well, pygmies do have language, usually it specifically relates to that of the rain forest.
The origins of pygmies is constantly at debate by researchers. Some point to food and resource competition or malnutrition, such as a lack of calcium. Another reaso
n may be simple evolution; adapting the the dense forests and high heat and humidity.
Below is a map of general locations of pygmy tribes.
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