Photo-exhibition - Bambuti - in the track of Pavol Šebesta – Father of Pygmy people
(Alena Žákovská and Milan Daněk)
If bad things happen it must be happening because of the forest spirit sleeps. If he was awakened and saw us, he would never let it happened; the Bambut people say. Thus, they sing and believe that their songs will awake divine energy and everything will get better.
Pygmy people have been occupying the entire central Africa primeval forest spreading from the Albert’s lake to Atlantic Ocean. The history found them in the primeval forest where they lived in the way reaching the cradle of human existence itself. Even the ancient Egyptians were telling legends about Pygmy people. They worshiped them as “Gods’ dancers”; celestial entities coming from the land of trees and spirits.
Pygmy height and legendary way of life lured the attention of many explorers. One of them was also a missioner, ethnographer, and traveler Paul Jachym Schbesta. Only few people know that this man considered as a Father of Pygmy people is actually Pavel Šebesta – a Moravian.
Travelers Alena Žákovská and Milan Daněk decided to go in his tracks to Congo. They summarized the results of their adventurous trip in a few sentences “Nowadays the Pygmy people - Bambuts are still hidden by the primeval forest. It protects them from war, ethnical clean-outs, and cannibalism. However, when the massacres are over, a new danger will occur – peace. The home of Bambuts, the primeval forest Ituri, is the source of mineral resources and wood. Currently a corporation has already been preparing for taking over these resources. Where will the Bambuts hide themselves when there is no forest?
Alena Žákovská (1962)
traveler, Czech Republic ultra-marathon representative, Czech Republic champion in the endurance power pentathlon (2003, 2006), pedagogue
She teaches at the Masaryk University, Faculty of Natural Science in Brno, Czech Republic, the molecular biology and immunology fields. At the beginning of 90’s she uses the change in political situation and starts to travel. At first she visits countries of Europe, shortly after follows Asia, South America and Africa, where she participated in expeditions aiming to the wildest corners of the world. Besides traveling she is devoted to mountain hiking, ultra-marathon, and power pentathlon. She is able to speak English, Germen, Russian, and Spanish languages; moreover, she is able to manage basic communication in other languages. A new traveling chapter started to be recorded after establishment of the Horizont association in 2000. Traveling itself was complemented by many other activities interconnected with the presentation of new knowledge and experience: discussions, exhibitions, movies, festivals etc. And what did she reveal about herself on the internet?:
"My friends describe me as hyper-active. It is true that I still have to be in motion, and sport and traveling prevail over my hobbies. Shortly after my return from the expedition to Khan Tengri in the mountain range Tian Shan I got ill and for a certain time I did not even walk. Doctors managed to determine my diagnosis not sooner than after one year; it was the Lyme disease (borreliosis). Sportswoman toughness was also proved when struggling with this disease. I started purposely dedicate my time to the study of bacteria diseases caused by borrelia kind. Just in this period I was in the partial disability pension, but immediately after the disease was stabilized I plunged into the spot and traveling again. My next routes aimed to the America, Africa and Asia"
Expeditions:
- 4x New Guinea, Borneo, Basin of the river Xingu in the Brazilian Amazon, Ruwenzori in Uganda, primeval forest Ituri in Congo
Ascents:
- Mount Blanc (4.807), Mount Elbrus (5.642), Cotopaxi (5.900) , Mount Damavand (5.671), Mount Margherita (5.109), effort to climb Khan Tengri (6.990)
- Volcanoes in the Indonesia islands
Visited countries:
- Europe: probably all of the countries except for Netherlands, Portugal, and Albania
- Africa: Egypt, Morocco, Gambia, Senegal
- South America: Ecuador, Peru, Brazil
- Asia: Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Malaysia
- Indonesia: New Guinea, Borneo, Java, Sulawesi, Bali
Milan Daněk (1962)
traveler, organizer of travel festivals, cameraman, chairman of the Horizont Association
Behind the birth of the project of journeys among geographically isolated ethnic origins was the fulfillment of “big boyish dreams”. It was just dreams that brought “Danny” to the project Harrer’s world, whose idea is to aim to the same districts as this Austrian traveler visited and compare them according to his works, how the world under the impact of civilization changes. Traveling and exploring new countries is also enabled to him through the Horizont Association which was established in 2000 with the help of Alena Žákovska. He plays the role of cameraman during his journeys. He cooperates with the movie director Jan Popelka when processing his materials. Besides the camera role, he is also the author of scenario and commentary as well as he takes a part in directory. Throughout the year he maintains his physical condition by endurance races, mainly by the long distance runs that are longer than 10 kilometers and reaching the ultra-marathon distances, then it is cycling and cross-country skiing. And which journey is the most valuable for him?
"It is the journey to the Indian tribe living along the upper basin of the river Xingu in Brazilian Amazon, We overcame many obstacles and as the revenge we were accepted by the Jawalapiti tribe. Its members proudly live in traditional way of living while the permission to enter their territory was granted to very few foreigners. Those couple days that we spent in the company of Arftan - the headman, I would never exchange for meeting any president of the world."
Expeditions of the Harrer’s world project:
- Trikora 2001 (New Guinea), Asmat 2002 (New Guinea), Huka - Huka 2003 (Brazil), Hampatong 2004 (Borneo), Carstenzs 2006 (New Guinea)
Movies from "Danny’s" studio:
- WA-WA-WA!
- HUKA - HUKA
- Under protection of hampatongs
- Kembali
- Bambuti
Idol:
"It is Mr. Heinrich Harrer. Not only for the fact that he wrote the book Seven years in Tibet. He was a traveler simultaneously excellent sportsman, and an explorer. He remains a great inspiration for me; I highly appreciate our personal meeting and the fact that he accepted honorary membership in our association."
