Talks of the Past Open Seminar: Hunter-gatherer ancestry in Zambian BaTwa populations – Genetics, archaeology and discussion of results with study participants

Abstract

Sub-equatorial Africa is today inhabited predominantly by Bantu-speaking groups of Western African descent, whose ancestors, in many cases, replaced, displaced, or assimilated local hunter-gatherer groups.

In eastern Zambia, there is evidence of Bantu-speaking agriculturalists from circa 2000 years ago. Little is known about the genetic affinities of the hunter-gatherers who inhabited the area before that.

Gwenna Breton will present a study focusing on two isolated communities in Zambia, known as BaTwa and possible descendants of recent hunter-gatherers. By analysing modern DNA from these populations, the researchers have identified a hunter-gatherer-like genetic ancestry in the BaTwa. They propose a model of the BaTwa population history and discuss how it compares with the archaeological evidence.

The results were discussed with the study participants prior to publication, and Gwenna will present some aspects of the presentation trip.

Invited seminar speaker: Gwenna Breton, a geneticist and bioinformatician at the University of Gothenburg.