Capacidad de movimiento: la motilidad como clave para entender movilidades y transformación social de los grupos baka en Gabón

Abstract

The concept of motility, which refers to the capacity to be mobile, is intro-duced in this article and suggested as an in-depth way to account for changes in the mobilities and social organization of foragers.Research with Baka foragers in northeastern Gabon shows how they are shifting their subsistence livelihoods by taking up artisanal gold mining. An ex-tended theoretical approach is necessary to give greater acknowledgement to the resulting impact and challenges to Baka egalitarian social organization. Motilityadds to the understanding of diversified mobilities by focusing not only on ac-tualized observable mobility, but also by considering the choices and limitations, which precede movement. Understood as mobility capital, motility highlights dif-ferences, changes and inequalities with-in Baka social groups and between Baka and neighboring communities.