Pólusán

Pólusán is a indigenous Pygmy people group from the Ngiri River region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They belong to the MGOP dialect cluster and are also known as the Ngiri or Poulusane people.

Traditionally, the Pólusán have lived in dense forest areas along the Ngiri River, leading a sedentary and family-centered lifestyle. Their subsistence economy was based on hunting, gathering, and fishing, with regular trade with neighboring groups. Men and women played significant roles in village life, with women often acting as healers and ceremonial leaders.

In the early 20th century, the Pólusán faced significant threats to their way of life, including forced labor for colonial administrators and the loss of ancestral lands to commercial timber companies. During the Congo Free State period, many Pólusán people were forcibly relocated to government-controlled settlements, where they were subject to forced labor, poverty, and malnutrition.

Today, the Pólusán are recognized as one of the country's smallest ethnic groups, with an estimated population of fewer than 30,000 individuals. Efforts to preserve their cultural heritage and promote their language and cultural rights have been implemented by local and international organizations. However, challenges persist, including deforestation, loss of traditional lands, and conflict with external groups that threaten their very existence as an indigenous people.

Some linguistic and anthropological research on the Pólusán has been conducted, but more studies are needed to understand the full scope of their culture and traditions.