The Ngandu horticulturalists live in Bagandou village, located in the Lobaye region of  the Central African Republic. In contrast with the Aka, Ngandu society is highly stratified by age and sex. Like the Aka, Ngandu children face high disease and pathogen risk as well as high rates of infant and childhood mortality. Although the two populations live in the same region, they interact with the landscape differently. Aka will sometimes work in Ngandu gardens, but Ngandu generally avoid the forest unless it’s caterpillar season, when the village empties! 

Ngandu children in the village
A young Ngandu mother with her infant
An older Ngandu father with his child
Two Ngandu moms and their children out front of a village home
An Ngandu woman
The chef du quartier and his son
A mixed-age playgroup of Ngandu children
Five Ngandu children in the village
Two Ngandu women
My colleague, Aubin, and a young Ngandu girl
Two Ngandu boys
An Ngandu mother prepares food while holding her infant
Three Ngandu women pose for a photograph
Me and my colleague, Aubin
Several Ngandu children pose outside of the village movie theater
An Ngandu father with his infant
The village chef du quartier and his wife
Ngandu children