In the heart of the Congo, a community revives a traditional code of conduct for caring for the environment.
WORDS AND VIDEO Petna Ndaliko Katondolo with Maurice Carney
IMAGES Stella Ramazani Nyota
Petna Ndaliko Katondolo journeys into the Congo Rainforest to discover the Basandja.
Enter the fascinating world of Basandja: The Living Wisdom of the Congo Rainforest, where the documentary camera lens captures more than just a jungle as it enters into conversation with a powerful living being: the forest and all her inhabitants. Basandja centers around ancestral ecology, which is an approach that revives ancient Indigenous knowledge as a practice that advocates for a holistic understanding of, and connection with, the earth. Here the earth is seen not merely as a repository of material resources but as a holobiont, an ensemble of closely associated species interlinked through complex symbiotic relationships that hold the entirety of life systems in balance. The story unfolds as a profound journey into the soul of the Isangi community and Tolaw villagers to map an ancient exchange with the forest that spans millennia.
In the heart of the rainforest, where trees stand like resilient sentinels, recoding aesthetics is at play. This theory advocates for a transformative process of representation and storytelling that considers multiple points of view, akin to the breaking down of long-standing arbitrary colonial conventions and established ways of thinking into simpler elements, mirroring the natural processes found in the environment. It challenges our misconceptions about representing other living beings and the way we refer to them and calls us to recognize our interdependence, not only at a biological and ecological level but also at an emotional level, which characterizes our understanding of ourselves and compels the decisions we make. Only through this mutuality will we be able to find a common language and a balanced narrative of representation required for our shared survival.
Basandja is a traditional code of conduct for caring for the environment and ensuring balance among living beings.
The language of Basandja, a traditional code of conduct for caring for the environment and ensuring balance among living beings that is passed down through generations, guides the Isangi community and Tolaw villagers to harmoniously coexist with the more-than-human world, aligning seamlessly with the principles of recoding aesthetics.
Visionary leader and climate justice advocate Samuel Yagase embodies this transformative journey. His mission is not just environmental; it is also about bridging the gap between ancient Indigenous wisdom and the fast-paced demands of the modern world. Under his guidance, Basandja becomes a living entity, urging the world to see the rainforest as more than a resource to exploit.
Also central to the film is Mama Elenge, guardian of the Basandja code, who personifies the principles of ancestral ecology. Her Basandja school is not just about education; it is a sacred space instilling responsibility and reverence for the environment in young minds. Ancestral ecology views the earth as a complex living being, deserving of care, consideration, and honorable responsibility. This interconnectedness of all life is again emphasized by Elders Batoa (age eight-seven) and Mama Mataro (age ninety-five), who echo the profound significance of the Basandja code.
Among the younger generation, we have Neema, an urban climate justice activist who, under guidance from Elders, seeks wisdom in the heart of the rainforest to embody the transformative potential of recoding aesthetics. She joins Samuel Yagase to establish a Basandja institute on Berta Island on the Congo River. Their audacious goal is to help preserve one of the great lungs of the world.
Basandja becomes a portal, opening the door to forest wisdom that has evolved across millennia.
Directed by Petna Ndaliko Katondolo, the film transcends conventional ecological narratives through embodied listening. This kind of deep listening, a cornerstone of ancestral ecology, allows the rainforest’s wisdom to seep into the very essence of the multiple points of view and immersive experience that imbue the documentary. Basandja becomes a portal, opening the door to forest wisdom that has evolved across millennia through the Isangi-Tolaw people’s intimate exchange with diverse life forms.
The impact of Basandja extends beyond the screen. It’s a movement guided by the principles of ancestral ecology and recoding aesthetics. The aim is not just a physical space — a research and training center or an eco-village on a Congo River island — but a collective journey into the heart of Africa. It is a plea to preserve the wisdom encoded in Basandja for the survival of our planet, embracing the transformative power of imagining new possibilities through ancestral ecology.
The impact of the climate crisis is felt in the heart of the rainforest with increased rainfall and greater intensity of flooding. Roads are turned into rivers and motorcycles are transported by canoe.
Permission must be granted by the village chief to enter the community even if you are a native son like Samuel Yagase.
Women are the indispensable keepers of traditional knowledge and wisdom.
The peaceful nature of the rainforest is unmistakable as village members transport goods in a serene environment.
In the heart of the rainforest, the negative impact of the climate crisis has turned roads into rivers. Basandja: The Living Wisdom of the Congo Rainforest teaser. Video: Petna Ndaliko Katondolo
Support the Cause: Donate to the completion of the film at basandjafilm.org
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Petna Ndaliko Katondolo is from the Yira circle of belonging. He is a descendant of the Basukali clan from Masereka and Kitamiaka lands in the eastern part of today’s Democratic Republic of the Congo. As a Ndaliko (sacred space), he is a memory keeper and a storyteller with the Elephant kinship spirit.
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Maurice Carney is a co-founder and executive director of the Friends of the Congo. He has worked with Congolese for over twenty-five years in their struggle for peace, justice, and human dignity.
