The Aka people, also known as Bayaka, are an indigenous population living in the Likouala region of the Republic of Congo. Despite their rich cultural heritage, the Aka have faced numerous challenges and obstacles.
As part of the Ordre de Malte France's (OMF) programme in Likouala, it was proposed in 2018 to carry out a vast health awareness campaign for the Aka using an innovative method adapted to the constraints of the territory. Solar audio players have been used by the Audiopedia Foundation since 2016 to improve health education among illiterate women in rural areas. The French anthropologist Romain Duda proposed to adapt the Audiopedia approach to the Aka culture. The player has many advantages, allowing autonomous (solar) awareness-raising work and adapted to great mobility.
This autonomous dissemination of health messages in the Aka language is an effective way of training the population in simple gestures, while at the same time complementing the primary health care system set up by the Ordre de Malte and being attentive to and respectful of certain indigenous skills. By relying on a participatory methodology, the broadcasting of messages recorded by the Aka—and for the Aka—allows for the valorization of testimonies on their own situation, an essential aspect since the reader also aims to transmit the content of the Congolese law of 2011 on their own rights.
During the missions of February–March 2018 and October–November 2018, the tool was systematically presented in the villages visited, with detailed explanations of its role in disseminating medical knowledge that complements local practices. In each village, listening sessions of previous recordings took place to motivate exchanges and encourage new recordings in situ.
Method
The central idea of the project is that the recordings do not establish a hierarchy of knowledge, but rather promote the identification and appropriation of the discourses by the listeners. It is not simply about translating a prescriptive text written by a medical team into the Aka language; it involves a dynamic dialogue between scientifically accurate statements and their popularized versions adapted to the target audience. This iterative process enables the Aka to appropriate the knowledge and express it in their own terms, using frequent repetition, real-life examples, and traditional expressions.
The chosen format favors a mix of awareness-raising messages on health and rights—alternating with health education songs based on traditional musical structures—and personal testimonies on diseases and rights. Additionally, the Aka were given the opportunity to record songs and music from their own heritage, unrelated to health, so that the audio player could also serve as a tool for cultural preservation and identity reinforcement.
This method varies by theme. For rights promotion messages, the recordings involved:
- Meticulous translation of selected articles from the 2011 Congolese law on the rights of indigenous people;
- Recording of testimonies and awareness-raising messages by local volunteers.
Regarding health education messages, the first step was to organize discussion sessions on various topics—such as parasitosis, malaria, vaccination, and leprosy—to identify needs, local terminologies, aetiologies, and nosologies. This work was supported by continuous collaboration between the Aka encyclopaedia (Thomas et al., 1981–2018), the OMF team of nurses (notably Dr. Cyriaque and César), and Dr. Alain Epelboin (CNRS–MNHN).
The main challenge in creating the health messages was balancing biomedical rigor with allowing the Aka to express themselves authentically using their own vocabulary and cultural expressions. Numerous revisions were made between initial drafts, multiple recording takes, and final French translations to ensure that the content was both accurate and culturally resonant.
Summary of Key Messages
The audio player’s content is organized into five parts (or folders) and is available on Audiopedia:
- Introduction
- Hygiene and health
- Diseases
- Rights of indigenous people
- Traditional songs, music, and stories
The content details include:
- Number of contributors: 12
- Speaking time for women: 48 minutes; for men: 1 hour and 46 minutes
- Duration by theme:
- Awareness of health and diseases: 1h13
- Rights awareness: 1h06
- Songs, tales, and traditional music: 1h53
The first track (file A) provides an introduction, usage instructions, and recommendations to users of the audio player. It emphasizes that the player is the property of Ordre de Malte France, with clear guidelines on user responsibilities.
File B primarily contains health education messages that highlight the relationship between hygiene and disease prevention, including spoken and sung messages. Key topics include the importance of hand washing to avoid bacterial contamination, proper washing of clothes to prevent skin problems, and traditional remedies for diarrhoeal diseases and parasite infestations.
File C addresses more serious diseases, starting with messages on the importance of vaccination, prevention of malaria, and awareness of respiratory diseases. The messages compare modern medical practices with traditional therapies, facilitating better understanding among the Aka.
File D focuses on rights, beginning with an introduction to the national law dedicated to indigenous people since 2011, followed by a song and detailed translations of the law's key articles regarding citizenship, health, culture, labor, and land rights. It also includes testimonies on the Aka’s rights and the importance of preserving traditional knowledge.
File E compiles traditional songs, music, and stories from the Aka folk tradition, featuring nightly storytelling sessions and traditional musical performances that enhance cultural preservation and communal identity.
- Fully charge a series of audio players via the USB port. Charge 5–10 devices simultaneously for efficiency.
- Once plugged in, perform the unlock combination to access the player’s content (indicated by a change in the LED color).
- Delete all default content on the player.
- Empty your computer’s "recycle bin".
- Copy all folders containing the recordings from your computer to the audio players, preserving the pre-set folder structure (folders A, B, C, D, E).
- After transfer, eject the devices and turn them off using the green button at the top left.
- Mark each audio player with a unique number using a large marker on the designated area.
- Distribute the players first to contributors or community relay members, and in remaining villages, assign them to respected Aka women (e.g., wives of clan chiefs or matrons).
- Ensure that only one player is distributed per village, emphasizing that the recipient is responsible for circulating the player within the community.
- During village visits, nurses should verify that the player remains in the village and report its status if it has been relocated, damaged, or stolen.
Impact and Future Directions
The project’s innovative approach not only disseminates essential health and rights education but also reinforces cultural preservation by integrating traditional music and stories. This method empowers the Aka to actively participate in knowledge exchange and supports the local healthcare and legal systems established by the Ordre de Malte France.
Looking forward, the lessons learned from this project will inform future initiatives, helping to refine our participatory methodology and further bridge the gap between modern medical knowledge and traditional practices. By fostering local ownership of these audio tools, we aim to create sustainable change that resonates with the community’s unique cultural identity.
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