Join us on September 25, 2025, for a screening of IHAMBA, a documentary film that traces the enduring connection between the Batwa tribe and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of southwestern Uganda. Once known as forest peoples, the Batwa were forcibly evicted in the early 1990s when ihamba — the word for “forest” in the local language — was designated as a national park for gorilla conservation and tourism. Since then, they have endured poverty, marginalization, and even death for trying to return to their ancestral lands for food, medicine, and spiritual sites.

Through Batwa voices, IHAMBA tells the story of the social, emotional, and cultural disruptions caused by conservation-driven displacement, putting an essential human face to the eviction of forest peoples. The film, developed over two years of close collaboration between the film team and Batwa communities, cinematically explores an array of lived experiences—from youth to Elders—to ensure the voices of those most affected by exclusionary conservation are heard. IHAMBA is a portrait of the deep and enduring interconnections between people and forest, a glimpse into the pain of cultural loss, and a testament to Batwa resilience, memory, and hope for justice.

After the screening, co-director David Borish will share a behind-the-scenes look at the co-creation process, followed by a collective discussion about the intersections between community rights and conservation.

Know about the project: https://www.ihambaproject.com/

For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ihamba-documentary-screening-indigenous-rights-in-conservation-tickets-1593483555209?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1