Babongo
Encyclopedia
The Babongo, or Bongo, are an agricultural people of Gabon
in equatorial Africa
who are known as "forest people" due to their recent foraging
economy. Though considered Mbenga Pygmies, they are not particularly short. They are originators of the Bwiti
religion, based on consumption of the intoxicating hallucinogenic iboga
plant.
There is no one Bongo language. They speak the languages of their Bantu neighbors, with some dialectical differentiation due to their distinct culture and history; among these are Tsogo
(the Babongo-Tsogho), Nzebi (the Babongo-Nzebi), West Téké
(the Babongo-Iyaa), Punu
(the Babongo-Rimba), and Lumbu
(the Babongo-Gama), and Myene
(the Babongo-Akoa). Yasa
in Gabon is reportedly spoken by "Pygmies"; Yasa-speakers speak a different language than their patrons, unlike any other group in Gabon apart from the Baka. The Barimba, Bagama, and Akoa live in the southern coastal provinces.
Bahuchet (2006) confirms three languages, each with dialectical differentiation from their non-Pygmy speakers: Tsogho in the central region (living with the Akele, Tsogo, Simba, Sango, Sira), and Teke and Kaning'i in the southeast (living among the Akele, Kaningi, Teke, Wumbu and the Obamba, Teke, respectively).
The Rimba variety of Punu
, however, has recently (2010) reported to have a core of non-Niger–Congo words and therefore should be considered unclassified.
The Babongo have recently changed from being nomadic hunter-gatherer
s to settled villagers with subsistence agriculture
supplemented by hunting. In the early 20th century they were fully nomadic and physically distinct from their Bantu neighbors, but by the mid 20th century they were starting to settle and to become physically indistinguishable. They have radio but not television in their small village communities and the few metal implements they possess come from the outside world. They are otherwise self-sufficient in their villages.
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
in equatorial Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
who are known as "forest people" due to their recent foraging
Hunter-gatherer
A hunter-gatherer or forage society is one in which most or all food is obtained from wild plants and animals, in contrast to agricultural societies which rely mainly on domesticated species. Hunting and gathering was the ancestral subsistence mode of Homo, and all modern humans were...
economy. Though considered Mbenga Pygmies, they are not particularly short. They are originators of the Bwiti
Bwiti
Bwiti is a West Central African spiritual practice by the forest-dwelling Babongo and Mitsogo people of Gabon, where it is counted as one of the three official religions, and the Fang people of Gabon and Cameroon...
religion, based on consumption of the intoxicating hallucinogenic iboga
Iboga
Tabernanthe iboga or Iboga is a perennial rainforest shrub and hallucinogen, native to western Central Africa. Iboga stimulates the central nervous system when taken in small doses and induces visions in larger doses. In parts of Africa where the plant grows the bark of the root is chewed for...
plant.
There is no one Bongo language. They speak the languages of their Bantu neighbors, with some dialectical differentiation due to their distinct culture and history; among these are Tsogo
Tsogo language
Tsogo is a Bantu language of Gabon. It's one of the principal languages of the Babongo Pygmies....
(the Babongo-Tsogho), Nzebi (the Babongo-Nzebi), West Téké
West Teke language
West Teke is a Bantu language spoken in the Republic of Congo and Gabon.West Teke is a dialect continuum. The varieties are Tsaayi , Laali, Yaa , and Tyee . The dominant variety by far is Tsaayi....
(the Babongo-Iyaa), Punu
Punu language
Punu is a Bantu language spoken in Gabon and the Republic of Congo. Irimba is classified as a dialect, but may be relexified from a non-Bantu source....
(the Babongo-Rimba), and Lumbu
Lumbu language
Lumbu is a Bantu language spoken in Gabon and the Republic of Congo....
(the Babongo-Gama), and Myene
Myene language
Myene is a cluster of closely related Bantu varieties spoken in Gabon by about 46,000 people. It is perhaps the most divergent of the Narrow Bantu languages, though Nurse & Philippson place it in with the Tsogo languages...
(the Babongo-Akoa). Yasa
Yasa language
Yasa is a Bantu language of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea by Ndowe coastal fishing people. It is also spoken by Pygmies, perhaps Babongo, in Gabon....
in Gabon is reportedly spoken by "Pygmies"; Yasa-speakers speak a different language than their patrons, unlike any other group in Gabon apart from the Baka. The Barimba, Bagama, and Akoa live in the southern coastal provinces.
Bahuchet (2006) confirms three languages, each with dialectical differentiation from their non-Pygmy speakers: Tsogho in the central region (living with the Akele, Tsogo, Simba, Sango, Sira), and Teke and Kaning'i in the southeast (living among the Akele, Kaningi, Teke, Wumbu and the Obamba, Teke, respectively).
The Rimba variety of Punu
Rimba language
Rimba is the speech variety of the Babongo-Rimba pygmies of Gabon. Generally considered a dialect of Punu, it may preserve a core of non-Bantu vocabulary, and so to be conservative should be considered unclassified.-References:...
, however, has recently (2010) reported to have a core of non-Niger–Congo words and therefore should be considered unclassified.
The Babongo have recently changed from being nomadic hunter-gatherer
Hunter-gatherer
A hunter-gatherer or forage society is one in which most or all food is obtained from wild plants and animals, in contrast to agricultural societies which rely mainly on domesticated species. Hunting and gathering was the ancestral subsistence mode of Homo, and all modern humans were...
s to settled villagers with subsistence agriculture
Subsistence agriculture
Subsistence agriculture is self-sufficiency farming in which the farmers focus on growing enough food to feed their families. The typical subsistence farm has a range of crops and animals needed by the family to eat and clothe themselves during the year. Planting decisions are made with an eye...
supplemented by hunting. In the early 20th century they were fully nomadic and physically distinct from their Bantu neighbors, but by the mid 20th century they were starting to settle and to become physically indistinguishable. They have radio but not television in their small village communities and the few metal implements they possess come from the outside world. They are otherwise self-sufficient in their villages.
- another name: Bazimba
External links
- African Forest Peoples Pygmy groups of Central Africa, with photos and sounds
- BBC: Babongo Tribe
- Discovery Channel's Going Tribal: Season 1, Episode 4, Vision Quest