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Ouésso is
a town in the northern Republic of the Congo, lying
on the Sangha River and surrounded by rainforest. It
is linked by ferry with Brazzaville and is known for
the pygmy people who live nearby. It is the capital
of the Sangha Region.The Sangha River, a river in central
Africa, is a tributary of the Congo River.
Many Pygmies in Congo
live as slaves to Bantu masters. The nation is deeply
stratified between these two major ethnic groups. The
Pygmy slaves belong from birth to their Bantu masters
in a relationship that the Bantus call a time-honored
tradition. Even though the Pygmies are responsible for
much of the hunting, fishing and manual labor in jungle
villages, Pygmies and Bantus alike say Pygmies are often
paid at the master's whim; in cigarettes, used clothing,
or even nothing at all. Now UNICEF and human-rights
activists are speaking out. A law that would grant special
protections to the Pygmy people is awaiting a vote by
the Congo parliament.
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