Nbatonha: A luta das katanderas em defesa de tchon de Pepel

Abstract

This work seeks to identify what mobilizes the struggle of the “katanderas” of the Pepel people, in Guinea-Bissau, in defense of their ancestral territories, considered sacred by them. For the “katanderas”, the environment goes beyond the space for living with ancestors, it is also seen as a living being, respecting all other forms of life that live there. A strong example of this is the recognition of nature spirits by the Pepel people. “Political ecology” is a field of study and research that enables serious dialogue, with the aim of deconstructing the dichotomous and anthropocentric vision that sees nature as a means, where “man” can arrive and destroy without even the slightest respect for the population that lived in these territories for several centuries. In view of this, the Political Ecology proposal contributes to the preparation of this dissertation and helps to understand that the struggle of the “katanderas” has a broad meaning, in the face of threats coming from progressive and developmental structures.