The consumption of bush meat remains popular in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), despite the risks it poses to human health and the environment.
The Kisangani market comes alive at night when Brazzaville residents have wrapped up their day and are getting ready for evening food preparations.
Brazzaville like many parts of Central Africa have a long tradition of consuming Wild Animals.
The reasons for the consumption of bush meat are diverse, in some cases because it’s a cheaper alternative to domesticated meat. In other cases, it is purely due to an individual’s test birds.
“I like wild Pigs, Antelopes, and Monkeys. I love bush meat because it is very sweet compared to meat from domesticated animals”, a Brazzaville resident said.
But beyond these reasons, there are also strong cultural beliefs that drive the consumption of bush meat. Many communities in Brownsville and across Central Africa believe that consuming certain types of bush meat can give spiritual or physical strength to the person who eats them.
Bush meat consumption is also often associated with traditional ceremonies and rituals.
“We prepare crocodiles for the groom during the wedding. Crocodiles are good for wedding parties because they symbolize respect and honor to the groom’s family back”, a Bush meat seller said.
As with everything else that is evolving around the world, so are the cultural beliefs around the consumption of bush meat.
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“In the past, women were not allowed to eat certain animals such as snakes. It was forbidden. Snakes were considered to be a powerful and dangerous symbol of masculinity. Women only started eating snakes since they noticed that they did nothing wrong to their bodies. So there’s nothing to worry about their reaction to the body”, a bush meat seller added.
“Women did not eat snakes before they were eaten by men, but here in town they discovered that snake meat is good, so they started eating it”, One of the Brazzaville residents said.
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The cultural beliefs that drive the consumption of bush meat in the country are deeply ingrained in the local culture and are often passed down through generations.
The cultural significance of bush meat means that it is likely to remain a part of the local diet for the foreseeable future.
