The Congolese Observatory for Human Rights is protesting Congolese officials who lodged a group of Pygmy musicians performing at the Festival of Pan-American Music in a zoo. Other artists performing at the festival received hotel accommodations.

"We vigorously protest the discrimination, exploitation and bad treatment of these 20 indigenous people," the rights group said. "Since their arrival in Brazzaville on July 4, these people have been sleeping exposed to mosquitoes and the cold ... whereas the other delegations have been housed in hotels."

Officials said they offered the indigenous musicians accommodation on the forested zoo grounds so the 10 women, nine men and one baby would feel more at home.

According to Yvette Lebondzo, the director of arts and culture for the Republic of Congo, this act is not a case of discrimination.

"We lodged them in the park near running water and a forest simply because that will remind them of their usual surroundings, which is the forest."