Info For Yous Teke (Bateke/Tio) People: Ancient Riverine Warriors, Cultural Dominant Together With Politically Powerful Ethnic Grouping Inwards Cardinal Africa
The Teke people (Tio/Bateke) are an amalgamation of agriculturalist, skillful fishermen together with powerful river-traders every bit good every bit Kiteke-speaking ethnic grouping of Central African Bantu origins. They occupy a serial of savanna plateaus spanning to a greater extent than than 120,000 km2 across south-eastern Gabon, the center, the due south together with the northward of Republic of Congo, together with south-western Democratic Republic of Congo (Dupré & Pinçon 1997).
The call "Teke" way "to buy," together with it shows the line of piece of employment of the people was trading. According to their denomination, François Ewani (1979:56) states that "the price Teke together with Tyos designate the same people speaking the Kiteke linguistic communication or Etyo".
Its population is situated mainly inward the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Congo-Brazzaville together with with a minority inward Gabon. In the Republic of Congo, Teke tin hold upwards found inward the departments of the Plateaux where they are the major community together with are neighbours of the Mbosi together with the Moye, the Cuvette-ouest where they are neighbours of the Mbosi, the Pool where they are neighbours of the Kongo, the Niari together with the Bouenza where they are neighbours of the Kongo, together with the Lekoumou where they are neighbours of the Kongo.
Several subgroups shape the large whole human Teke. One tin mention: Boma, Nzikou, Nziziu, Kukuya, Angungwel or ngungwel (Bangangoulou), Fumu, Mfununga (Wumbu), Nzabi, Sisi, Tsangui, Mbamba, Yaka, Teke-Tsayi, the Lale, Tegue (Teke-Alima), Mbeti (Mbere).
Teke adult woman from Gabonese Republic inward traditional costume
According to Abraham Constant Ndinga-Mbo (1984:49) Teke are the oldest stratum of the Bantu population inward the Republic of Congo. The historical analysis considers 3 ways of the foremost Bantu migration movements, leaving all of the basin of the Nile: the southern way, the equatorial way together with the northern way. The Bantu groups borrowed the Nordic way. Indeed, this itinerary is the i that would take hold been followed past times the Bantu detachments that, after having crossed the south-Sudan, the nowadays province of the Central African Republic, reached the part of the Republic of Chad lake. This lagoon part of Republic of Chad has, it seems, served every bit a temporary habitat to these Bantu groups earlier migrating over again toward the basin of the Benue (Itoua, op.cit.: 51-52) The Benue was non also a definitive habitat for all of them. From this seat the Bantu groups took some other migration southwards patch borrowing 3 directions (Guthrie, 1985):
- The foremost moving ridge had driven the Bantu from the zone betwixt the Benue together with the Cross-country patch next the Atlantic coast, colonizing the part betwixt the Sangha together with the Ogoué;
- The 2nd together with the 3rd allowed the Bantu to cross the large equatorial woods from the eastward to the west. The foremost grouping crossed the class of the high Ogoué to accomplish the Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool). The 2nd grouping reached the Congo past times the Sangha.
These directions seem to hold upwards those that would take hold been followed past times the Teke peoples living inward Gabonese Republic together with Congo, together with the Maka of the Sangha, after several centuries of rest inward the part of the Bénoué that they would take hold reached earlier 2500 BC.
The foremost migrants, the Teke that occupy the high hills covered with savannas together with shallows accommodating some forests galleries, arrived on these lands earlier 1400 of our era. They already knew to piece of employment with Fe together with to weave the raffia that they found inward the galleries. They already practiced agriculture together with hunt inward savanna with tools made of iron, the breeding of goats together with poultry. Their nutrient régime, since the installation on their nowadays land, is dominated past times the tubers: cassava, yam together with potatoes.
Teke human being from the Republic of Congo
Dominique Ngoie Ngalla (1985) referring to the founding myths, reveals that the Teke would come upwards downwards from Nguunu, this ancestor of most populations of the south-Congo. Successors of the Pygmies (Tswa, Baboongo together with Babi) inward the penetration inward Congo, they occupied a vast territory that Gilles Sautter has delineated from the Mambili (to the north) to the buttresses of the Mayombe. On these vast sites, they founded a large kingdom of Tio, challenger of the Kongo kingdom. In 15th together with 16th centuries, Teke waged a state of war with the Kongo to southwest, together with past times the mid-fifteenth century they were powerful traders inward tobacco together with slaves. The Teke kingdom, past times the early on 18th century, grown large together with really powerful through merchandise together with military machine conquest. It extended on both sides of the Congo (DR) River from Malebo Pool (formerly Stanley Pool) northward to the expanse about Bolobo.
Their Rex (Onkoo) is known inward history nether the appellation of Makoko. Under the thrust, nearly simultaneous of the Mbosi to the northward together with the Kongo to the south, the Teke abandoned vast extended of their territories to confine themselves inward their nowadays boundaries where at that spot are inward the view vast together with arid hills together with mountains.
In 1880, Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza- French citizen- started a trading station, which afterward became Brazzaville, close Malebo Pool. De Brazza met the nifty Teke King, Ilo Makoko together with negotiated with him for the part to acquire a French Colony. In 1882, the Kingdom of Teke was ceded to the middle Congo colony (part of French Equatorial Africa), of which de Brazza was the Commissioner-General. In the early on 19th together with 20th centuries the French operated a harsh, violent, together with oppressive regime, together with Ilo Makoko`s successor tried unsuccessfully to revolt against the Colonialist inward 1898. Over 3 quarters of the Tekes were killed inward reprisals. Independence was finally won 1960 every bit component subdivision of the Republic of the Congo.
The Teke historically breed dogs together with cats for domestic purposes. The chien Bateke is a little lean hunting domestic dog with a short, medium greyish coat. The chat Bateke is large truthful cat with nearly the same coloring every bit the dog. These animals constitute landraces, rather than formal breeds (they are non recognized past times whatever major fancier together with breeder organizations). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bulk of domesticated cats together with dogs inward areas bordering the Congo River are of these breeds, though ownership of domesticated animals inward full general is rare inward the region.
The notable Teke people include Omar Bongo, one-time President of Gabon, together with his son Ali Bongo Ondimba, electrical flow president of Gabonese Republic every bit good as Charles David Ganao (1928-2012), Prime Minister of the Republic of Congo (1996-1997).
El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba (born Albert-Bernard Bongo; thirty Dec 1935 – 8 June 2009), was an ethnic Teke human being together with a Gabonese pol who was President of Gabonese Republic for 41 years from 1967 until his expiry inward 2009.
Teke are also known for their creative arts. Tekestatues take hold a religious function, but are inward a higher identify all used for their magical qualities. The Teke take hold 2 sorts of statue: the Nkida which do non take hold a magical charge, together with the Butti which do.
Teke statues are little inward size, betwixt 15 together with lxxx cm. There are to a greater extent than often than non parallel lines along the cheeks that correspond tattoos. The forms are squat. The style of the statues is ‘cubist’ with angular forms together with a helm shaped coiffure. The trapezoid beard is a sign of potency together with prestige amidst the Teke. The oral fissure has of import ritualistic significance; one-half opened upwards but doesn’t let on the teeth. The arms are usually downwards past times the sides, bent at a correct angle, the hands placed on either side of the stomach; sometimes they take hold a magical accuse or ‘bilongo’. The legs are usually bent, but at that spot are some squatting statues. Teke statues are rarely feminine.
Nkida statues correspond an of import soul that has passed on (a famous hunter, a begetter or woman parent of a large family, a nifty cook, a good known warrior, a adept fisherman, a nifty warrior…). This statue is uniquely representative; it does non send a magical charge.
The Teke from the North West, notably the Tsaye, exercise little disc shaped masks. These circular apartment masks, divided horizontally past times a strip, are decorated with abstract geometric motifs, white, black, blue, ruddy or brown. Holes were made about the border inward monastic say to claw on a costume made of raffia, feathers together with fibres which hid the dancer. Two slits allowed the dancer to reckon out without beingness seen. At the dorsum of the mask, a u-shaped roll surrounded the dancer’s head.
Teke mask
Geography
The Bateke Plateaux is a geographical expanse extending across 3 Central African countries roughly bounded past times the cities of Franceville, Gabon; Brazzaville, Republic of Congo; together with Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The plateaus themselves are a serial of half dozen elevated areas located primarily inward the Republic of Congo. In Gabon, the Bateke Plateaux expanse comprises the foothills of these largely Congolese plateaus.
Soils together with Geology: Dominated past times grassland together with riparian forests, these plateaus are component subdivision of an ancient sand dune scheme called the Kalahari Sands (Haddon 2000). The Kalahari Sands scheme finds its northernmost extension inward Central Africa (Haddon 2000). The plateaus are composed of 2 layers of sands including aeolian deposits from the Tertiary menstruum from the Kalahari Desert together with a 2nd layer of ochre sands (Peyrot 1991). The sands correspond some of the deepest sand deposits inward the world. In Gabon, they shape the split betwixt the Ogooué together with Congo River basins.
These sands together with their savannas halt abruptly inward south-eastern Gabonese Republic where rainforest on laterite soils begins. This coming together of 2 substrates favours a forest-savanna mosaic which creates a
diverseness of habitats for both woods together with grassland identify people, plants, together with animals.
The Bateke Plateaux landscape also comprises numerous cirques which are attributed to erosion
related to particular rainfall events inward the past; these cirques are inward various stages of revegetation
(Schwartz together with Lanfranchi 1990: 169). The sands take hold a high percolation charge per unit of measurement resulting inward heavy H2O loss despite high rainfall. This high rainfall sometimes confuses vegetation modellers whose models predict woods embrace for the plateau expanse (see Delire et al. 2008). In the Kalahari Sands inward Zimbabwe, sand depth together with soil wet take hold the greatest final result on vegetation construction (Childes together with Walker 1987). Despite this, inward a continental broad comparing of savannas, the Kalahari Sands had a higher than expected density of trees (Sankaran et al. 2005). This may hold upwards partially explained past times rooting depth (Holdo together with Timberlake 2008).
Rainfall together with Climate: Gabon’s rainfall varies from 3,300 mm per twelvemonth on the coast to every bit footling every bit 1,500 mm inward parts of the interior (White 1983: 73). In 2006, the rainfall records from PPG on the Mpassa River measured 2,650 mm. In 2008-2009, records from the Ekouyi –Mbouma study site measured 2,890 mm (Fig. 2). Both of these measurements overstep the ranges commonly reported for the expanse including 2,000-2,250 (Vande Weghe 2008: 33), 1000-2,000 (White 1983: 73), 1,800-
2,000 (Mpoinza together with Samba-Kimbata 1990: 36), or “greater than 1600 mm” (Schwartz together with Lanfranchi 1990: 169). In the plateau area, rains seem to hold upwards quite variable depending on whether i is on a major river valley bottom, similar the Mpassa, where the 2,600 mm per twelvemonth occurred or whether on a tributary of the Mpassa, every bit inward the example of the 2,890 mm reading at the hamlet of Ekouyi. Irregularity is to hold upwards expected betwixt years, however, rainfall variation inward the Plateaux Bateke is particular together with tin vary past times to a greater extent than than 15% betwixt years (a variability only rivaled past times Mt. Cameroon) (Mpounza together with Samba-Kimbata 1990: 39).
According to PPG records, daytime temperatures were nearly constant 2004 – 2006 ranging
betwixt 24.4 – 26.8°C. However, nighttime fourth dimension temperatures vary seasonally, beingness notably colder
than daytime temperatures inward the dry out season. Wind management together with tempest fronts also alter seasonally, with dry out flavor winds coming from the south-west together with rainy flavor winds coming from the north-west.
Fauna: Faunal diverseness is non exceptionally rich, but the species assemblage is unusual for this component subdivision of Gabon. In this region, lions i time roamed the savanna, Grimm’s duiker finds its hit limit
(Kingdon 1997), every bit do numerous flora species to a greater extent than mutual inward the Zambesian vegetation to the south. The most mutual brute species inward these savannas are Grimm’s Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), Side-striped Jackal (Canis adustus), Yellow-backed Duiker (Cephalophus silvicultor), together with to a lesser extent the African Civet (Civettictis civetta), Forest Buffalo (Syncerus caffer subsp. nanus) together with Red River Hog (Potamochoerus porcus) (Bout 2006).
Flora: New flora species endemic to the Plateaux forests take hold been discovered (Stone et al. 2006) every bit good every bit inward the savanna, but most grassland species are non endemic to the area
(Walters et al. 2006). The savanna vegetation ecology has been studied inward depth, particularly
about Brazzaville (Koechlin 1961a; Koechlin 1957). In the Plateaux Bateke, several habitats be including a variety of grasslands (humid, woody, together with herbaceous). These are scattered betwixt copses together with riparian forests. These savannas halt where the major woods block begins (see White 1983). There seems to hold upwards footling correspondence betwixt sand type together with savanna type, especially inward the opened upwards together with shrubby types. Therefore, catena drawings take hold non been given.
Herbaceous savanna (kape): This category represents grassland without a major woody element (e.g. except for occasional individuals of Annona senegalensis) Grasses tin vary inward ascendency together with include a mixture of Anadelphia afzeliana (Rendle) Stapf, Ctenium newtonii Hack,
Elionurus hirtifolius Hack., Loudetia simplex (Nees) Hubb, Melinis nerviglumis (Franch.) Zizka, Panicum juncifolium Stapf, Schizachyrium thollonii (Franch.) Stapf, together with Sporobolus congoensis Franch.
Wooded savanna (mpila): Wooded grassland abuts the border of the woods together with is dominated past times the savanna trees Hymenocardia acida Tul. together with Annona senegalensis Pers., with less frequent tree species representing Maprounea africana Müll. Arg., Ochna afzelii R. Br. ex Oliv., Bridelia ferruginea Benth., Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC., together with Vitex madiensis Oliv. Sometimes beneath the canopy of Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.) W. Wight trees dense stands of Aframomum alboviolaceum (Ridl.) K. Schum. together with Hyparrhenia cyanescens (Stapf) Stapf tin hold upwards found inward association with a large termite mound (Fig. 3b). Bird species specific to this expanse include (pers. comm. P. Christy): Sooty Chat, Fiscal Shrike, White Browed Scrub Robin, Amathyst Sunbird, Rattling Cisticola, Cabanis Bunting, Striped Kingfisher, Cape Turtle Dove, Pale Flycatcher, together with Fork-tailed Drongo.
Humid grassland (yohro): Some hills shape catchments where wet grasslands or peat bogs shape (Makany 1972). These are dominated past times herbaceous species of Xyris spp., Utricularia spp., Mesanthemum radicans (Benth.) Korn., together with are sometimes associated with the woody species Clappertonia ficifolia Decne.
Copses (kadjia): Copses are little forests that are often one-time hamlet sites, oft located on colina tops. The vegetation of these is mainly secondary species including Oncoba welwitschii Oliv., Vernonia conferta Benth., Laccosperma secundiflorum (P.Beauv.) Kuntze, Gnetum africanum Welw., Dioscorea praehensilis Benth. together with Millettia laurentii De Wild.. Fruit trees tin also hold upwards nowadays including avocado together with sapho (Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J. Lam). These areas are
sometimes cultivated together with sometimes used every bit sources of gathered materials for basketry, leafage sauces, together with wild fruits. The canopies of these copses are often punctured past times emergent fossil oil palms; these bear witness that a given copse was formerly a hamlet site.
Language
The Teke or Tyos (Tios) verbalize the Kiteke linguistic communication or Etyo," which is a Bantu linguistic communication belonging to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication family.
These plateaus also correspond distinct Bantu linguistic communication groups inward the B70-B79 hit (Guthrie 1953). Numerous attempts take hold been made to sort out the languages together with thence the people, with various authors attempting to subdivide them into every bit many every bit xvi sub-groups (Sautter 1960) or every bit few every bit Guthrie’s ten. Work conducted past times the Summer Institute of Linguistics (Linton 2008) over the past times 10 years inward both the Republic of Congo together with Gabonese Republic indicates that at that spot are 12 linguistic communication subgroups comprising some 390,000 speakers inward the 3 countries.
Bateke early on migrations
Vansina’s (1990) seminal piece of employment on Central African history based on linguistic analysis provides a synthesis of Equatorial African history. Early large-scale Bantu migrations into the Bateke Plateaux ended about K AD; smaller migrations continued influenced past times politics together with resources. During this early on stage inward history, Vansina (1990) notes the evolution of nature spirit-linked the world tenure together with the ascent of early on to a greater extent than centralised political structures.
This migration story differs substantially from that offered past times southern Bateke myth which indicates that at that spot was articulation institution of several ethnic groups including the Kongo, Bateke, together with Vili peoples (Ebouli 2001; Soret 1973). Soret indicates that this myth matches observations past times the Portuguese inward the 1500s (1973: fig. 35), however, this analysis predates that of the linguistic i offered past times Vansina. Others betoken that the Bateke were the foremost occupants, after the Pygmies, inward Central Congo, which may hold upwards an sweat to claim to hold upwards foremost occupiers of the the world (Ndinga-Mbo 1981: 75). The foremost metal-working together with plantation burning inward the Haut Ogooue were noted inward 400 B.C. (Clist 1995).
Establishment of the Bateke kingdom: domains ruled past times the world spirits
In M-C. Dupré’s comprehensive piece of employment on Bateke history every bit viewed through the lens of metallic working, she describes half dozen periods inward Bateke history from K AD to nowadays (Dupré together with Pinçon 1997). With information contributed from archaeological findings at the edges of the Bateke kingdom, historical notes, together with oral history from the Bateke Tsayi of Zanaga, Congo, Dupré proposes a cyclical history centering on the “dilemma of human being versus riches” (1997:199).
Throughout the half dozen phases proposed, at that spot is a bi-cephalous dominion with a style towards i or the other of 2 poles: that of frugality represented past times the hamlet master copy together with that of excess represented past times the the world chief. The style was driven externally past times factors of resources extraction, trade, together with unusual influence. In the next subdivision I attempt to mesh Dupré’s together with Vansina’s perspectives on Bateke history.
Early inward Bateke history, about K AD, metallic working was prominent together with the mediator betwixt humans together with the the world spirits was the ngaa, or medicine man. Land spirits, or nkira, were a source of political powerfulness inward the landscape, mediated past times a the world chief, or ngantse. Vansina notes that this was the foremost stair inward the emergence of the savanna kingdoms due south of the equatorial rainforest (Vansina 1990). Around 1100AD, at that spot is the foremost centralisation of powerfulness on the plateaus with the introduction of a supreme the world spirit: the Nkwe Mbali, symbolised past times the lion. This spirit, also called the “Lion’s court” is, to this day, spiritually centred on the Lefini River’s Mah Falls, inward the Republic of Congo where half dozen anvils are buried. These anvils correspond the powerfulness of the Bateke ruler, the Onkoo (or Makoko) together with v ngaa. At this point, at that spot is a centralisation of powerfulness over 4 plateaus (between Mbe together with the Koukouya Plateau) together with the formation of the Bateke kingdom which ruled over the 12 domains (subdivisions of the world ruled past times the world chiefs) of the Mbe Plateau where the Onkoo lived. Elsewhere inward the savannas due south of the equatorial pelting forest, the Kongo together with Loango kingdoms were developing inward line with the Tio (eastern Bateke) kingdom, which Vansina dates to the 1300s.
Visitor bows earlier Teke Makoko (King)
The Bateke kingdom is the to the lowest degree centralised of the three, where the the world chiefs autonomously held sway over their territories, mediating betwixt the nature spirits together with humankind. Land chiefs also existed inward the Kongo kingdom, but at that spot they were direct accountable to the king. Where the Bateke based their dominion on a nature spirit, the next kingdoms ruled past times virtue of their ancestors. The geographical expanse associated with nkira coincides almost precisely with that of the geographical
distribution of Bateke people. In contrast, the Teke-derived nkani political construction (based on
judges) expanded good beyond the borders of the Tio Kingdom (Vansina 1990: 148).
According to Dupré together with Pinçon, past times 1200-1400 AD merchandise relations were developing for the foremost fourth dimension at the Bateke kingdom’s edges. Migrations towards the due south occur together with it is a fourth dimension of warfare against the Kongo kingdom. During the 1500s commerce on the Congo River becomes of import with the opening of the large marketplace at Malebo Pool (between Brazzaville together with Kinshasa). At this point, the Onkoo strikes a bargain with a major Bateke river trader of the Congo named Ngobila. Ngobila, who formerly paid tribute to the Onkoo, is straight off liberated from this duty together with is the only soul also the Onkoo empowered to have on the sacred Panthera leo skin. The Loango are trading partners with the Bateke inward the interior together with the Portuguese observations inward 1598 are the foremost written accounts of the Bateke together with other peoples (Pigafetta together with Lopés 1883).
The Portuguese acquire inward into merchandise with the Loango kingdom together with export slaves to Brazil (Pinçon 1991). At this point, the slave merchandise becomes a diversifying factor inward the economy; it equalizes the condition of people, reducing the concentration of powerfulness inward the elite groups past times creating a merchant middle class (Vansina 1990).
Separation of the northward western Bateke from the Tio Kingdom: Amaya Mokini
and the ascent of the leopard
During the 1600-1700s economical activity destabilizes the potency of the Onkoo; additionally a serial of powerful cults are introduced inward various plateaus which compete with the Onkoo’s authority. The major challenge is the introduction of a powerful cult surrounding 12 nkobi fetish boxes; these infiltrated the Tio Kingdom along the Likouala merchandise route, most probable originating with the Loango Lemba cult (Vansina 1990). Vansina indicates that the Atlantic merchandise increased riches dramatically, allowing rulers to purchase the nkobi fetishes. By 1750, this allowed the Bateke on the northern border of the Tio kingdom to adopt this choice source of powerfulness together with acquire independent from the kingdom.
Bateke people of Gabon. Circa 1905
It is at this fourth dimension that the spiritual centre of Amaya Mokini gains prominence; it is the highest dot on the Ogooué-Congo River drainage split together with the centre of north-western Bateke mpu or power. The Nkani gain powerfulness together with shape a decentralised ruling scheme based on “small states organised inward community villages nether the potency of a chief” (Ebouli 2001: 32). This creates a serial of hierarchies that Ebouli classifies inward descending monastic say every bit province (kasi) to the world (ntse) to hamlet (mpuru) to business solid (ndjo); each flat having a leader. This is inward stark contrast to the Tio Kingdom inward which powerfulness is strictly centralised at Mbé.
The King Makoko Ilo flanked the casket containing the treaty of cession of territories Bateke to France. Circa 1880.
As a farther contrast to the Onkoo’s Nkwe Mbali, Amaya Mokini is called Nkwe a Nzami or the
“Court of God”. According to Dupré together with Pinçon (1997), Moubie, a Bateke-Tsayi hero, was one
of the foremost to discovery the powerfulness of Amaya, an deed which shortly attracted the attending of the
Koukouya, the Teke-Alima, the Ntsabi, together with fifty-fifty the Onkoo himself. In myth, Amaya is an expanse named after the boy from an illegitimate union betwixt the married adult woman of an nkani together with a the world master copy named Amaya. Dupré together with Pinçon (1997) betoken that this shape of myth telling, inward which many political price are layered, is typical inward Bateke history. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 identify of mystic origins, stories of Amaya Mokini are silent kept past times the ebaningi, the one-time emissaries of the the world master copy (Le Bomin 2004).
Amaya Mokini represents a difference from the dominion past times the Tio Kingdom. Tio potency is
replaced past times the Nkani, an initiation brotherhood (Ebouli 2001) whose powerfulness is based on the
leopard (Dupré together with Pinçon 1997). “One sees how the trips to Amaya Mokini served to reorganise
the relationships betwixt various Teke groups” (Dupré together with Pinçon 1997: 74). From
the ascent of Amaya every bit an choice Teke powerfulness base, a serial of novel political structures are cast
inward the unlike subgroups. The Koukouya Plateau sees the ascent of the leopard together with the
introduction of the heaven lords who fought it (Bonnafé 1978). The coming of the heaven lords
changed the way inward which the the world master copy ruled, creating a bi-cephalous system, where world and
heaven lords ruled together. Further to the south, the discoverer of Amaya’s powerfulness moves into
Teke-Tsayi country, bringing the Nzineke lords together with a political construction organised about the
Moubial chiefs (Dupré 1990; Dupré together with Pinçon 1997). Leopard symbolism penetrates many
parts of the area, creating novel political alliances together with replacing the Panthera leo of the Tio Kingdom in
many plateaus except Mbé itself.
These events grade the disintegration of the Onkoo’s power. For the Tsayi, Dupré (1997) notes that at that spot were out-migrations from the Koukouya Plateau to avoid the tribute human relationship with the Onkoo. Further separating the eastern Bateke from those of the edges, about 1840 a serial of border wars broke out betwixt the northern Teke, the Mbede, together with Mboshi (Vansina 1990). The Mboshi pushed the north-western Bateke out of the Alima expanse together with into the nowadays solar daytime Lékoni expanse (Dupré & Pinçon 1997; Lotte 1953), which inward plow pushed the N’dumu towards Franceville (Milleto 1951).
The Onkoo together with de Brazza: 1880
Despite wars together with a loss of supporters, the Onkoo silent held sway over the Pool expanse on the Congo River. During these perturbations inward together with about the Kingdom, de Brazza was exploring the plateaus inward the trading interests of the French (de Brazza 1888; de Brazza 1887). In de Brazza’s move notes, he carefully delimited the extent of the Bateke kingdom (Brunschwig 1972:52; thirty Oct 1880 de Brazza). Brunschwig notes that these limits stretched from Nkhemi River due south to Malebo Pool together with and then inland to the Mpama River close the Koukouya Plateau. He farther notes that the Mfuunu of Congo-Kinshasa, the Nguugalu of the River, together with the Koukouya all recognized the importance of the Onkoo but did non take hold a tribute human relationship with him together with were non represented inward his courtroom (Brunschwig 1972: 52). It was during this fourth dimension of reduced influence of the Tio Kingdom that the French signed a merchandise treaty with the Bateke of the Pool (de Brazza 1880). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 twelvemonth later, inward 1881, Stanley made an agreement with a powerful Teke ivory trader named Ngaliema to flora a send service inward nowadays solar daytime Kinshasa (Pakenham 1992: 151).
By 1884, the signatory Onkoo had died (Dolisie 1927), prompting the French to estimate the identity of the novel successor together with how he would influence trade. The Bateke silent controlled the Pool despite force per unit of measurement area from the Bobangi river traders. Vansina writes that 8 years after signing the treaty, the contest with the European economic scheme significantly reduced Tio trading powerfulness (Vansina 1973: Chapter XI). Guiral inward 1889 noted the preference past times Central Africans for European wares together with the contest this created for locally-made items. As the Congo River merchandise gained importance, merchandise past times river replaced traditional overland merchandise that used human foot paths which had i time connected the Tio together with Loango kingdoms (Vansina 1973).
Artistic impression of Teke Ilo Makoko
During this fourth dimension of increased merchandise inward the Pool area, the Bateke began to withdraw from the merchandise economic scheme together with moved into the plateaus. While the Bobangi river traders pushed into the Pool, at that spot were increased Bateke migrations northward out of the Tio Kingdom. Vansina (1973: 496) notes that,
"Like the bear on of the environment, the bear on of external merchandise tin hold upwards found inward all
aspects of life. It was so serious that inward the 1880s the ecological residual betwixt man
together with his surroundings on the plains was disturbed."
Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza inward Congo
This disturbance was linked to depression labour availability to grow nutrient for the urban market, and
malnutrition. Dupré interprets this withdrawal every bit a render to the the world spirits because the Bateke
attributed the sleeping sickness epidemic that had struck the plateaus to their neglect.
Concessions together with the rural exodus: 1900s
According to Papy, the interior plateaus held footling economical involvement for the French, resulting inward their reduced contact with the Bateke than compared with neighbouring groups (1949). Coquery-Vidrovitch’s piece of employment on the concession scheme inward the AEF gives some insight into the reduced economical evolution inward the area. In the Alima area, fossil oil palm plantations together with Ongokea fruit gathering operations were introduced, all the same the French considered the Bateke to hold upwards indifferent, non intelligent, together with nifty sorcerers.
The Bateke themselves chose to withdraw rather than submit to the French who they felt had
deposed their ruler. Coquery-Vidrovitch (1972) indicates that the French left the Congo “backcountry” somewhat untouched, maintaining only weak activities inward the plateaus. The Bateke themselves seemed to hold upwards especially resistant to these activities to the grade that they are fifty-fifty called, “losers”.
While other populations inward Congo were used every bit labourers inward mineral exploitation, especially copper, “le plateau Batéké, peuple de Téké, d’Achikuya, de Tegué (sur l’Alima) et de Djikini (sur le Kouyou), resta longtemps fermé » Coquery-Vidrovitch 1972 : 82-3. The Bateke were seen every bit having scattered villages that conducted irregular commerce with the concessions. In particular, the Koukouya Plateau was known every bit “le refuge de toutes les fortes tetes” (Moyen- Congo Rapport Annuel 1913 cited inward Coquery-Vidrovitch 1972:83).
Bateke of Congo sidelined inward their one-time territories (1950s)
Brazzaville was established on Bateke territory but, rather than working with resident Bateke, the French brought inward labourers from neighbouring ethnic groups. In Potopoto, a workers’ urban center developed exterior Brazzaville, the Bateke numbered 3,200 out of 37,800 workers. In 1950, the Bateke numbered 4,000 to the 16,000 Balali (Sautter 1966: 384). This didn’t sit down good with the
Bateke residents, who proclaimed, "de Brazza a dit que cette terre était aux Bateke. Brazza a signé la grande paix avec les Bateke. Je dis, moi, aux Balali: cette terre n'est pas à toi, tu es un
voleur. Papy 1949 : 128
Cultural portrayal of Ngalifourou, Queen of Teke (Congo)
These sentiments take hold been sung past times Bateke instrumentalist “N'gantshie” Strervos Niarcos of Kinshasa, together with descendent of the Roi Ngaliema, one-time the world master copy of Kinshasa inward the 1880s. Niarcos sang of Bateke the world loss on his album “Bateke”. However, he most notably sang virtually the Religion Kitende, a cult devoted to European article of apparel (pers. comm. J. Trappido, 2009).
Mbé, the working capital missive of the alphabet of the Bateke kingdom, was cutting off from Brazzaville until the 1960s when the route was improved. Strangely, the Bateke who were i time the major trading partners of the French had dispersed either into their remote together with “inhospitable” plateaus or into an urban guild where they were mere labourers (Sautter 1966: 384). Some consider that the Bateke lost out inward modern Congo society, despite beingness the foremost negotiators with de Brazza together with Stanley (Sautter 1966: 385).
Economy
Bateke economic scheme is mostly agrarian. There are 2 large-scale types of tillage that are
conducted: woods plantations (ngwunu) together with savanna plantations (ntieni). Additionally at that spot are
little gardens behind houses inward the hamlet (obugha). Trees are planted throughout the village.
Forest plantations (ngwunu): These plantations are the major source of cultivated foods. These are to a greater extent than often than non jointly managed past times married persons who split the labour into the manlike soul role of cutting downwards the large trees inward the novel plantation, together with the woman soul role of planting, weeding, together with harvesting. Sometimes single women desiring a plantation volition solicit labour from the youth or single men together with compensate them with food, alcohol, or money. Some members of the elite every bit good every bit city-dwellers from the hamlet volition engage the hamlet women’s association to brand plantations inward their absence. Additionally, some women volition go into town to assist their urban relatives brand plantations at that spot or to brand smaller secondary plantations for their ain consumption during frequent town stays.
Early inward the long dry out flavor inward June, men together with women laid virtually clearing the brush inward the subcanopy
of the forest. By early on July, the men start out the chore of chopping downwards the large trees. The vegetation is left to dry out together with past times mid-August the plantations are ready to burn. Planting begins inward September or October. Crops planted inward ngwunu include manioc (Manihot esculenta Crantz), 3 to 4 varieties of woods yams (Dioscorea sp.), calabash (Lagenaria sp.), little amounts of corn (Zea mays L.), Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd., Basella alba L., Celosia argentea L., Solanum sp. (ntiangui) together with gourds for their fossil oil seeds (Cucumeropsis mannii Naudin). Extensive plantations of
pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) are planted, something that began inward the 1950s. These are used for vino making. Formerly, vino was only made from the naturalised together with smaller species of Ananas sativus Schult. & Schult. f. which is found inward the forest, some hunting camps, together with old hamlet sites. Some women silent get together these pineapples, which are sweeter, for vino making. This is locally referred to every bit the Bateke pineapple (kantu atege)
Savanna tillage (antieni): Following the planting of ngwunu, inward Oct together with Nov women do plantations or antieni. These plantations are largely for yams but may also incorporate manioc. This procedure occurs inward novel savanna non far from the hamlet but exterior the caprine animal grazing zone. Antieni (sometimes called apayi or ekala) tin hold upwards created inward groups or alone. The procedure consists of using a large hoe to overturn the sod, creating long furrows (ekala) numbering virtually xx inward the average plantation. These furrows are together with then planted with at to the lowest degree 3 varieties of savanna yam (e.g. mva) together with i variety of a tuber (njolo) inward the mint family. Also planted are Bateke
groundnuts (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.), oseille (Rumex sp.), tobacco (Nicotiana sp.), and
sesame (Sesamum radiatum Schumach. & Thonn.). The knife which was used to split the yam roots which were planted is left inward the savanna plantations, struck inward the ground, until the foremost leaves of the yams grow. This ensures success of the plantation.
These plantations require footling maintenance. Once they are planted, they are left until the harvest period: February-March for the leafage together with seed crops, together with July-August for the root crops. Antieni are guarded against predation (particularly against bush pig) together with past times burning of the tall grass surrounding the plantation simply after it is planted. This also avoids accidental fires afterward destroying the crops.
Dawn gardens (obugha): Behind houses inward the village, little vegetable or medicinal flora gardens are created. Vansina called these little easily-accessible areas, “dawn gardens”. These are surrounded past times fences to maintain the goats out, together with the soil is often improved past times the improver of vegetable compost. Vegetables cultivated include aubergine (Solanum sp.), oseille, hot peppers (Capsicum anuum L.), taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott), together with sometimes tomatoes (Lycopersicon sp.). Medicinal plants include non-natives such every bit Sansevieria Thunb., njuma-njuma (Ocimum sp.), together with Lantana camara L. Banana trees (Musa sp.) are sometimes planted inward these gardens to commemorate a birth. It is hither that the placenta of the new-born is buried; later, when severely sick, this soul may take hold a healing ceremony conducted nether his/her tree.
Cultivated fruit trees: Non-native fruit trees are often planted inward hamlet forests. These trees sometimes betoken the one-time homesteads of deceased relatives. The primary tree species planted are mango (Mangifera indica L.), avocado (Persea americana Mill.), fossil oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), together with atanga (Dacryodes edulis) trees. Despite their scattered nature throughout the village, fruit trees ever take hold an possessor who has a correct to the harvest. The harvest of these trees is
commonly consumed past times the owner’s household, but sometimes surplus fruit may hold upwards sold. Oil palm, i of the most of import plants inward hamlet life, yields many products including oil, fruit, fibre, together with fermentable sap. Only a few decades ago, the cutting downwards of an fossil oil palm to brand palm vino was forbidden since a tree provided much to a greater extent than than wine. Wine was only harvested past times climbing to the top together with securing the sap without killing the tree. Now, fossil oil palms are regularly cutting downwards for making palm wine.
Hunting: Hunting is a passion for the Bateke. Since component subdivision of this study is related to the savanna hunting tradition, this shape of hunting volition hold upwards described inward particular later. Cable traps are sometimes laid about plantations or along trap-lines. These are checked regularly. Animals trapped this way include porcupine or little gazelles. Sometimes men volition hunt lone inward the savanna or woods with guns. These tin hold upwards brusk excursions or long expeditions on foot, involving camping. Prey of various sizes is targeted including medium-sized birds.
Hunting is sometimes done past times groups of 6-7 men. The political party uses a long light-weight internet (now made of synthetic materials together with purchased ready-made) together with dogs to hunt porcupine together with little antelope. Previously, stouter nets called awungu were used to grab bush-pig, a arts and crafts which was introduced to the Bateke past times the neighbouring Obamba woods people at a fourth dimension when bush squealer were devastating their plantations. Today, these stout nets are no longer used nor are bush squealer caught inward anything but traps or with guns. However, internet hunting for porcupine continues. Post hunt, long lengths of these nets tin hold upwards found drying inward the Sun behind houses.
Hunting with dogs is the norm. Formerly dogs would have on ndimbi bells that would assist hunters inward distinguishing their dogs inward the forest. Today, dogs are used to drive game into nets or to run downwards game that has been shot.
Fishing: Fish supplements the brute poly peptide inward diet throughout the year. While salted together with smoked fish are sometimes bought inward town, fresh fish is regularly caught with a variety of methods. Sometimes a solitary affair, most active line-fishing occurs past times people working inward groups.
Passive fishing: the capture of fish inward the absence of the fisher past times way of nets, traps, or hooks.
Lassoua: these narrow cone-shaped traps are constructed from palm fibres. During the rainy season, simply earlier a heavy rain, dams are built across little rivers together with these traps are placed within the dam to grab fish.
Kayoubi: This trap is a circular cage with a one-way entry. Bait is placed within together with the cage is
submerged inward H2O to attract fish together with frogs. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 little door on the side aids removal of the catch.
Night-hooks: At nightfall, men volition laid baited hooks inward little rivers to grab catfish. The lines are checked the next morning.
Nets: Small nets are sometimes installed inward little rivers. These are inward places of slow access where the net-owner tin banking venture check them regularly, such every bit next to the manioc processing stations.
Active fishing: the capture of fish when the fisher is present.
Bucket (kayuba): This tin occur inward rivers or inward floodplains. When conducted inward rivers, the river
is dammed off together with emptied with buckets to harvest the fish that are left behind. Often these
areas are close the manioc processing stands inward the river, together with the walls are left mostly intact.
Thus line-fishing tin occur easily next manioc processing at the halt of the day. The wall is
reinstated, together with groups of women volition exercise buckets to empty all the H2O within the barrier. In
the floodplain, during the dry out flavor when the lakes inward the savannas together with floodplains are
start to dry out up, women volition dam together with empty portions of these.
Stream diversion: sometimes men volition brand little ox-bows out of woods streastreams to privatise a
line-fishing spot. Once close Saaye, a major river (the Obia) was diverted for a solar daytime past times women to capture fish inward the drying river-bed.
Pole fishing: This type of line-fishing is done throughout the twelvemonth inward rivers together with lakes.
Noodling: searching submerged holes inward river banks for catfish. Holes are located together with the fisher
inserts ones manus into the hole, blindly immobilising the fish’s fins together with stingers, together with removes it.
Sometimes fishers’ bodies are nearly fully submerged during this activity. This shape of fishing
yields large fish.
Vegetation mat searching: Vegetation mats may also hold upwards searched. Working waist deep inward the river, women volition uproot all the vegetation inward a little stretch together with simultaneously flip it over. Then, the vegetation mat is systematically searched for hiding fish.
Basket (njili): In drier times of the year, but non necessarily during the long dry out season, groups of women volition go line-fishing with baskets called njili. These are essentially mats that take hold been folded inward one-half together with saltation together to do rectangular, loose-weave baskets. The oral fissure is widened with a roll of liana. Small lakes together with portions of oxbow lakes are dammed with aquatic plants together with earth.
Then, all vegetation is removed from the interior of the lake. One to 2 smaller njili are installed inward these dams with their mouths facing inwards towards the line-fishing area. Groups of 2 together with then delineate larger njili betwixt them to dredge the bottom of the lake, stopping regularly to upright the handbasket together with take away fish, frogs, tadpoles, together with trailing vegetation. Every sixty minutes or so, the njili inward the dams are “rushed”, important that a two-some volition drag their large njili towards the halt basket, forcing some fish to rush into it. The 2 baskets are simultaneously uprighted together with the fish removed. The in conclusion sixty minutes is spent noodling.
This type of line-fishing is an all-day affair requiring a grouping of virtually 8 women. All sizes of little together with large fish are kept, every bit are frogs together with tadpoles. The grab is divided evenly with all fisherwomen. Often fresh fish is prepared rapidly over a can together with eaten simply earlier heading identify that evening.
Social Organisation amidst the Teke
This is non a centralized state, together with the potency of the Rex is inward a higher identify all religious. The Teke Rex is sacred. He plays an intermediary role betwixt the spirits together with the living. He is the guarantee of both fertility together with cosmic order. He was aided past times 3 people that made him undergo a serial of enthronement rites over a menstruum of 2 years. The diviner (Nganga) predicted the duration of the king’s reign past times carrying out magical processes. The griots recalled past times history, such every bit the justice together with courage of kings. The king’s main duty was to save the prosperity of his kingdom past times carrying out specific rituals.
Each identify unit of measurement came nether the orders of the master copy of the identify unit of measurement who had absolute life together with expiry rights over the identify unit of measurement members. The greater the identify unit of measurement unit, the greater the prestige of the chief, together with chiefs would take hold on increasing numbers of slaves inward monastic say to increment this prestige.
The hamlet elected a master copy together with this master copy was subordinate to the clan master copy who controlled several villages. The master copy of the clan possessed a fetish figure called’ begetter of the earth’, which was a large wooden statue. The lower dorsum of the statue had a band of fabric about it, a slice of metallic was stuck inward the bellybutton together with the eyes were made from 2 fragments of woman parent of pearl. This fetish figure guaranteed the good beingness together with the fertility of the village’s inhabitants. This figure presided over festivities together with rituals. It was the guardian of monastic say together with could exclude anybody that behaved badly.
At a religious level, the hamlet master copy chosen to hold upwards the religious master copy was the most important. He owned a handbasket containing the os remains of ancestors together with magical statues.
The Teke often chose the blacksmith every bit the hamlet chief, he was an of import figure together with his responsibleness was hereditary. The diviner (Nganga), who was at the same fourth dimension a healer together with a witch, was really powerful. He was paid to give personal statues their protecting powers, together with to play the role of priest inward example of expiry or illness. His tools were a mirror, several statuettes, a plume duster, together with a rattle made from a hollow dry out fruit.
Among the masculine Mungala society, the clan chiefs together with the diviners (Nganga) assured the instruction of the time to come initiates.
To do a novel hamlet the diviner uses a magical statuette together with a bell. He tries to obtain the ancestor’s understanding when choosing the seat of the novel village. Once the Nganga has found it, the men dig a hole, pour inward some palm vino together with and then fill upwards the hole inward with white clay. The aim is to give thank yous the ancestors together with to obtain their protection.
Religious Belief
The Teke believed inward a Supreme Being together with creator of the universe, called Nzami. However, they only worshipped an ancestral cult nether the supervision of the diviner (Nganga). The Teke worshipped the cult of the genies or spirits of nature. They hoped to obtain their assistance, together with when they went hunting they carried with them a little statue to convey them luck.
Nganga way sage, magician, judge, or priest. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 soul becomes Nganga either past times inheriting the seat or next a dream. The Nganga owns a statuette containing the soul of an ancestor called Tamakuwi. He is also capable of uncovering witches.
Among the Teke, the cult of the ancestors is really important. The ancestors alive inward the sacred forests, close rivers, inward clearings, inward caves…If the descendants do non honour their ancestors they believe that they volition come upwards dorsum to torment them, hold upwards it with sickness, or mental illness. In monastic say to avoid this, each identify unit of measurement worships its ancestors. This cult materializes itself inward anthropomorphic statues.
Teke Statues
Teke statues take hold a religious function, but are inward a higher identify all used for their magical qualities. The Teke take hold 2 sorts of statue: the Nkida which do non take hold a magical charge, together with the Butti which do.
Teke statues are little inward size, betwixt 15 together with lxxx cm. There are to a greater extent than often than non parallel lines along the cheeks that correspond tattoos. The forms are squat. The style of the statues is ‘cubist’ with angular forms together with a helm shaped coiffure. The trapezoid beard is a sign of potency together with prestige amidst the Teke. The oral fissure has of import ritualistic significance; one-half opened upwards but doesn’t let on the teeth. The arms are usually downwards past times the sides, bent at a correct angle, the hands placed on either side of the stomach; sometimes they take hold a magical accuse or ‘bilongo’. The legs are usually bent, but at that spot are some squatting statues. Teke statues are rarely feminine.
The statue may take hold been made past times the Nganga or the soul who wants to ain it, mayhap the identify unit of measurement chief. It is also possible that a professional person sculptor was charged with both the making together with sale of the statue.
Nkida statues correspond an of import soul that has passed on (a famous hunter, a begetter or woman parent of a large family, a nifty cook, a good known warrior, a adept fisherman, a nifty warrior…). This statue is uniquely representative; it does non send a magical charge.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Butti statue is only effective if it has been consecrated past times a diviner or Nganga. The diviner puts a serial of various ingredients inward a little cavity inward the statue’s stomach. For a magical statue this mightiness be; vegetable matter, brute or minerals, together with if it is a statue of an ancestor, the magical accuse mightiness incorporate hair, nails, or pieces of the dead person’s skin. This mixture is called ‘Bilongo’ or remedy. The reliquary statues of the ancestors are kept inward houses together with worshipped. They to a greater extent than often than non take hold a beautiful shiny patina due to the large seat out of fossil oil libations, ruddy powder, together with fruit together with seeds that take hold been chewed together with spat out. The condition of the ancestor represented past times the statue is signified past times a metallic necklace.
In monastic say to obtain the services of the magical Butti statue, the foremost solar daytime of the novel or total moon, an ointment made of ruddy pulverisation together with fossil oil are made for the statue. These rites take hold identify inward the forenoon together with mightiness occur earlier a hunt, a journey, or an of import sale…
Janus statues are those of the chiefs.
The shape of Bilongo often indicates the business office of the statue.
Before leaving for a large game hunt, the diviner calls upon the divine forces. Small statues of betwixt 6 together with 12 cm are carried on the hunter’s arms to protect the expedition. Similarly to the other statues, their stomachs are covered inward a poultice made of brute matter.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 special statuette, with a cylindrical impasto is used past times the Nganga to ease the pains of pregnant women. After the birth, the placenta is buried inward the business solid where the shaver volition hold upwards raised. Part of the placenta is also used to mix inward with the ingredients for the statue’s magical accuse together with volition protect the shaver upwards until puberty. This statue is placed inward a higher identify the burial dot of the placenta.
As good every bit his usual tools (bell made from brass or wood, mirror, plume duster), the Nganga owns a certainly seat out of little statues. One of these, called ‘Matompa’, helps to avoid slumber sickness (trypanosomiasis). For the ceremony dedicated to the struggle against this illness, the diviner sacrifices a seat out of chickens together with shaver goats, according to the wealth of the village. The animal’s blood is mixed with certainly magical substances together with is introduced into the hollow infinite inward the statue’s stomach. The statue is together with then wrapped inward a slice of fabric which is attached with a slice of string to the cervix together with hips. When the statue is finished it is offered to the chief. The ceremony ends inward a dance.
Teke Masks
The Teke from the North West, notably the Tsaye, used little disc shaped masks inward the framework of their undercover guild called Kidumu. This political together with religious guild intervened inward all the major events inward the social life of the village, notably: the spousal human relationship of a notary, a chief’s death, circumcision, an alliance, a judgement. The mask wearer danced lone accompanied past times an orchestra at the halt of the ceremony.
These circular apartment masks, divided horizontally past times a strip, are decorated with abstract geometric motifs, white, black, blue, ruddy or brown. Holes were made about the border inward monastic say to claw on a costume made of raffia, feathers together with fibres which hid the dancer. Two slits allowed the dancer to reckon out without beingness seen. At the dorsum of the mask, a roll on 3 sides surrounded the dancer’s head.
Other Objects Made past times the Teke
The Teke also made axes together with metallic necklaces, notably inward yellowish copper.
Source:http://eprints.ucl.ac.uk/20195/1/20195.pdf
Photo source:http://afriktradition.blogspot.com/
Great installation ceremony of the novel King Makoko, King of Tekes at the Royal Mausoleum. Courtesy Patrick Robert
The call "Teke" way "to buy," together with it shows the line of piece of employment of the people was trading. According to their denomination, François Ewani (1979:56) states that "the price Teke together with Tyos designate the same people speaking the Kiteke linguistic communication or Etyo".
Its population is situated mainly inward the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Congo-Brazzaville together with with a minority inward Gabon. In the Republic of Congo, Teke tin hold upwards found inward the departments of the Plateaux where they are the major community together with are neighbours of the Mbosi together with the Moye, the Cuvette-ouest where they are neighbours of the Mbosi, the Pool where they are neighbours of the Kongo, the Niari together with the Bouenza where they are neighbours of the Kongo, together with the Lekoumou where they are neighbours of the Kongo.
Teke people
Several subgroups shape the large whole human Teke. One tin mention: Boma, Nzikou, Nziziu, Kukuya, Angungwel or ngungwel (Bangangoulou), Fumu, Mfununga (Wumbu), Nzabi, Sisi, Tsangui, Mbamba, Yaka, Teke-Tsayi, the Lale, Tegue (Teke-Alima), Mbeti (Mbere).
Teke adult woman from Gabonese Republic inward traditional costume
According to Abraham Constant Ndinga-Mbo (1984:49) Teke are the oldest stratum of the Bantu population inward the Republic of Congo. The historical analysis considers 3 ways of the foremost Bantu migration movements, leaving all of the basin of the Nile: the southern way, the equatorial way together with the northern way. The Bantu groups borrowed the Nordic way. Indeed, this itinerary is the i that would take hold been followed past times the Bantu detachments that, after having crossed the south-Sudan, the nowadays province of the Central African Republic, reached the part of the Republic of Chad lake. This lagoon part of Republic of Chad has, it seems, served every bit a temporary habitat to these Bantu groups earlier migrating over again toward the basin of the Benue (Itoua, op.cit.: 51-52) The Benue was non also a definitive habitat for all of them. From this seat the Bantu groups took some other migration southwards patch borrowing 3 directions (Guthrie, 1985):
- The foremost moving ridge had driven the Bantu from the zone betwixt the Benue together with the Cross-country patch next the Atlantic coast, colonizing the part betwixt the Sangha together with the Ogoué;
- The 2nd together with the 3rd allowed the Bantu to cross the large equatorial woods from the eastward to the west. The foremost grouping crossed the class of the high Ogoué to accomplish the Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool). The 2nd grouping reached the Congo past times the Sangha.
Gabon`s President Ali Bongo Ondimba together with ethnic Teke human being with his First Lady Sylvia Bongo Ondimba brand it at the opening ceremony of the Francophone Summit inward Montreux
These directions seem to hold upwards those that would take hold been followed past times the Teke peoples living inward Gabonese Republic together with Congo, together with the Maka of the Sangha, after several centuries of rest inward the part of the Bénoué that they would take hold reached earlier 2500 BC.
The foremost migrants, the Teke that occupy the high hills covered with savannas together with shallows accommodating some forests galleries, arrived on these lands earlier 1400 of our era. They already knew to piece of employment with Fe together with to weave the raffia that they found inward the galleries. They already practiced agriculture together with hunt inward savanna with tools made of iron, the breeding of goats together with poultry. Their nutrient régime, since the installation on their nowadays land, is dominated past times the tubers: cassava, yam together with potatoes.
Teke human being from the Republic of Congo
Dominique Ngoie Ngalla (1985) referring to the founding myths, reveals that the Teke would come upwards downwards from Nguunu, this ancestor of most populations of the south-Congo. Successors of the Pygmies (Tswa, Baboongo together with Babi) inward the penetration inward Congo, they occupied a vast territory that Gilles Sautter has delineated from the Mambili (to the north) to the buttresses of the Mayombe. On these vast sites, they founded a large kingdom of Tio, challenger of the Kongo kingdom. In 15th together with 16th centuries, Teke waged a state of war with the Kongo to southwest, together with past times the mid-fifteenth century they were powerful traders inward tobacco together with slaves. The Teke kingdom, past times the early on 18th century, grown large together with really powerful through merchandise together with military machine conquest. It extended on both sides of the Congo (DR) River from Malebo Pool (formerly Stanley Pool) northward to the expanse about Bolobo.
Belgian Congo - Bateke hamlet close Leopoldville. Belgian postcard sent inward 1913. © Look together with Learn / Elgar Collection
Their Rex (Onkoo) is known inward history nether the appellation of Makoko. Under the thrust, nearly simultaneous of the Mbosi to the northward together with the Kongo to the south, the Teke abandoned vast extended of their territories to confine themselves inward their nowadays boundaries where at that spot are inward the view vast together with arid hills together with mountains.
The Teke historically breed dogs together with cats for domestic purposes. The chien Bateke is a little lean hunting domestic dog with a short, medium greyish coat. The chat Bateke is large truthful cat with nearly the same coloring every bit the dog. These animals constitute landraces, rather than formal breeds (they are non recognized past times whatever major fancier together with breeder organizations). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bulk of domesticated cats together with dogs inward areas bordering the Congo River are of these breeds, though ownership of domesticated animals inward full general is rare inward the region.
Casimir Zagourski (1883-1944), Teke Chief, Belgian Congo, L’Afrique qui disparait! Series 1, no. 3, c. 1929-37, atomic number 47 gelatin impress on postcard stock. Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution
The notable Teke people include Omar Bongo, one-time President of Gabon, together with his son Ali Bongo Ondimba, electrical flow president of Gabonese Republic every bit good as Charles David Ganao (1928-2012), Prime Minister of the Republic of Congo (1996-1997).
El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba (born Albert-Bernard Bongo; thirty Dec 1935 – 8 June 2009), was an ethnic Teke human being together with a Gabonese pol who was President of Gabonese Republic for 41 years from 1967 until his expiry inward 2009.
Teke are also known for their creative arts. Tekestatues take hold a religious function, but are inward a higher identify all used for their magical qualities. The Teke take hold 2 sorts of statue: the Nkida which do non take hold a magical charge, together with the Butti which do.
Teke statues are little inward size, betwixt 15 together with lxxx cm. There are to a greater extent than often than non parallel lines along the cheeks that correspond tattoos. The forms are squat. The style of the statues is ‘cubist’ with angular forms together with a helm shaped coiffure. The trapezoid beard is a sign of potency together with prestige amidst the Teke. The oral fissure has of import ritualistic significance; one-half opened upwards but doesn’t let on the teeth. The arms are usually downwards past times the sides, bent at a correct angle, the hands placed on either side of the stomach; sometimes they take hold a magical accuse or ‘bilongo’. The legs are usually bent, but at that spot are some squatting statues. Teke statues are rarely feminine.
Butti statue Teke -Republic of Congo
Nkida statues correspond an of import soul that has passed on (a famous hunter, a begetter or woman parent of a large family, a nifty cook, a good known warrior, a adept fisherman, a nifty warrior…). This statue is uniquely representative; it does non send a magical charge.
The Teke from the North West, notably the Tsaye, exercise little disc shaped masks. These circular apartment masks, divided horizontally past times a strip, are decorated with abstract geometric motifs, white, black, blue, ruddy or brown. Holes were made about the border inward monastic say to claw on a costume made of raffia, feathers together with fibres which hid the dancer. Two slits allowed the dancer to reckon out without beingness seen. At the dorsum of the mask, a u-shaped roll surrounded the dancer’s head.
Teke mask
Geography
The Bateke Plateaux is a geographical expanse extending across 3 Central African countries roughly bounded past times the cities of Franceville, Gabon; Brazzaville, Republic of Congo; together with Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The plateaus themselves are a serial of half dozen elevated areas located primarily inward the Republic of Congo. In Gabon, the Bateke Plateaux expanse comprises the foothills of these largely Congolese plateaus.
Soils together with Geology: Dominated past times grassland together with riparian forests, these plateaus are component subdivision of an ancient sand dune scheme called the Kalahari Sands (Haddon 2000). The Kalahari Sands scheme finds its northernmost extension inward Central Africa (Haddon 2000). The plateaus are composed of 2 layers of sands including aeolian deposits from the Tertiary menstruum from the Kalahari Desert together with a 2nd layer of ochre sands (Peyrot 1991). The sands correspond some of the deepest sand deposits inward the world. In Gabon, they shape the split betwixt the Ogooué together with Congo River basins.
These sands together with their savannas halt abruptly inward south-eastern Gabonese Republic where rainforest on laterite soils begins. This coming together of 2 substrates favours a forest-savanna mosaic which creates a
diverseness of habitats for both woods together with grassland identify people, plants, together with animals.
The Bateke Plateaux landscape also comprises numerous cirques which are attributed to erosion
related to particular rainfall events inward the past; these cirques are inward various stages of revegetation
(Schwartz together with Lanfranchi 1990: 169). The sands take hold a high percolation charge per unit of measurement resulting inward heavy H2O loss despite high rainfall. This high rainfall sometimes confuses vegetation modellers whose models predict woods embrace for the plateau expanse (see Delire et al. 2008). In the Kalahari Sands inward Zimbabwe, sand depth together with soil wet take hold the greatest final result on vegetation construction (Childes together with Walker 1987). Despite this, inward a continental broad comparing of savannas, the Kalahari Sands had a higher than expected density of trees (Sankaran et al. 2005). This may hold upwards partially explained past times rooting depth (Holdo together with Timberlake 2008).
Rainfall together with Climate: Gabon’s rainfall varies from 3,300 mm per twelvemonth on the coast to every bit footling every bit 1,500 mm inward parts of the interior (White 1983: 73). In 2006, the rainfall records from PPG on the Mpassa River measured 2,650 mm. In 2008-2009, records from the Ekouyi –Mbouma study site measured 2,890 mm (Fig. 2). Both of these measurements overstep the ranges commonly reported for the expanse including 2,000-2,250 (Vande Weghe 2008: 33), 1000-2,000 (White 1983: 73), 1,800-
2,000 (Mpoinza together with Samba-Kimbata 1990: 36), or “greater than 1600 mm” (Schwartz together with Lanfranchi 1990: 169). In the plateau area, rains seem to hold upwards quite variable depending on whether i is on a major river valley bottom, similar the Mpassa, where the 2,600 mm per twelvemonth occurred or whether on a tributary of the Mpassa, every bit inward the example of the 2,890 mm reading at the hamlet of Ekouyi. Irregularity is to hold upwards expected betwixt years, however, rainfall variation inward the Plateaux Bateke is particular together with tin vary past times to a greater extent than than 15% betwixt years (a variability only rivaled past times Mt. Cameroon) (Mpounza together with Samba-Kimbata 1990: 39).
According to PPG records, daytime temperatures were nearly constant 2004 – 2006 ranging
betwixt 24.4 – 26.8°C. However, nighttime fourth dimension temperatures vary seasonally, beingness notably colder
than daytime temperatures inward the dry out season. Wind management together with tempest fronts also alter seasonally, with dry out flavor winds coming from the south-west together with rainy flavor winds coming from the north-west.
Fauna: Faunal diverseness is non exceptionally rich, but the species assemblage is unusual for this component subdivision of Gabon. In this region, lions i time roamed the savanna, Grimm’s duiker finds its hit limit
(Kingdon 1997), every bit do numerous flora species to a greater extent than mutual inward the Zambesian vegetation to the south. The most mutual brute species inward these savannas are Grimm’s Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), Side-striped Jackal (Canis adustus), Yellow-backed Duiker (Cephalophus silvicultor), together with to a lesser extent the African Civet (Civettictis civetta), Forest Buffalo (Syncerus caffer subsp. nanus) together with Red River Hog (Potamochoerus porcus) (Bout 2006).
Flora: New flora species endemic to the Plateaux forests take hold been discovered (Stone et al. 2006) every bit good every bit inward the savanna, but most grassland species are non endemic to the area
(Walters et al. 2006). The savanna vegetation ecology has been studied inward depth, particularly
about Brazzaville (Koechlin 1961a; Koechlin 1957). In the Plateaux Bateke, several habitats be including a variety of grasslands (humid, woody, together with herbaceous). These are scattered betwixt copses together with riparian forests. These savannas halt where the major woods block begins (see White 1983). There seems to hold upwards footling correspondence betwixt sand type together with savanna type, especially inward the opened upwards together with shrubby types. Therefore, catena drawings take hold non been given.
Herbaceous savanna (kape): This category represents grassland without a major woody element (e.g. except for occasional individuals of Annona senegalensis) Grasses tin vary inward ascendency together with include a mixture of Anadelphia afzeliana (Rendle) Stapf, Ctenium newtonii Hack,
Elionurus hirtifolius Hack., Loudetia simplex (Nees) Hubb, Melinis nerviglumis (Franch.) Zizka, Panicum juncifolium Stapf, Schizachyrium thollonii (Franch.) Stapf, together with Sporobolus congoensis Franch.
Wooded savanna (mpila): Wooded grassland abuts the border of the woods together with is dominated past times the savanna trees Hymenocardia acida Tul. together with Annona senegalensis Pers., with less frequent tree species representing Maprounea africana Müll. Arg., Ochna afzelii R. Br. ex Oliv., Bridelia ferruginea Benth., Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC., together with Vitex madiensis Oliv. Sometimes beneath the canopy of Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.) W. Wight trees dense stands of Aframomum alboviolaceum (Ridl.) K. Schum. together with Hyparrhenia cyanescens (Stapf) Stapf tin hold upwards found inward association with a large termite mound (Fig. 3b). Bird species specific to this expanse include (pers. comm. P. Christy): Sooty Chat, Fiscal Shrike, White Browed Scrub Robin, Amathyst Sunbird, Rattling Cisticola, Cabanis Bunting, Striped Kingfisher, Cape Turtle Dove, Pale Flycatcher, together with Fork-tailed Drongo.
Humid grassland (yohro): Some hills shape catchments where wet grasslands or peat bogs shape (Makany 1972). These are dominated past times herbaceous species of Xyris spp., Utricularia spp., Mesanthemum radicans (Benth.) Korn., together with are sometimes associated with the woody species Clappertonia ficifolia Decne.
Copses (kadjia): Copses are little forests that are often one-time hamlet sites, oft located on colina tops. The vegetation of these is mainly secondary species including Oncoba welwitschii Oliv., Vernonia conferta Benth., Laccosperma secundiflorum (P.Beauv.) Kuntze, Gnetum africanum Welw., Dioscorea praehensilis Benth. together with Millettia laurentii De Wild.. Fruit trees tin also hold upwards nowadays including avocado together with sapho (Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J. Lam). These areas are
sometimes cultivated together with sometimes used every bit sources of gathered materials for basketry, leafage sauces, together with wild fruits. The canopies of these copses are often punctured past times emergent fossil oil palms; these bear witness that a given copse was formerly a hamlet site.
Language
The Teke or Tyos (Tios) verbalize the Kiteke linguistic communication or Etyo," which is a Bantu linguistic communication belonging to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication family.
These plateaus also correspond distinct Bantu linguistic communication groups inward the B70-B79 hit (Guthrie 1953). Numerous attempts take hold been made to sort out the languages together with thence the people, with various authors attempting to subdivide them into every bit many every bit xvi sub-groups (Sautter 1960) or every bit few every bit Guthrie’s ten. Work conducted past times the Summer Institute of Linguistics (Linton 2008) over the past times 10 years inward both the Republic of Congo together with Gabonese Republic indicates that at that spot are 12 linguistic communication subgroups comprising some 390,000 speakers inward the 3 countries.
Bateke early on migrations
Vansina’s (1990) seminal piece of employment on Central African history based on linguistic analysis provides a synthesis of Equatorial African history. Early large-scale Bantu migrations into the Bateke Plateaux ended about K AD; smaller migrations continued influenced past times politics together with resources. During this early on stage inward history, Vansina (1990) notes the evolution of nature spirit-linked the world tenure together with the ascent of early on to a greater extent than centralised political structures.
This migration story differs substantially from that offered past times southern Bateke myth which indicates that at that spot was articulation institution of several ethnic groups including the Kongo, Bateke, together with Vili peoples (Ebouli 2001; Soret 1973). Soret indicates that this myth matches observations past times the Portuguese inward the 1500s (1973: fig. 35), however, this analysis predates that of the linguistic i offered past times Vansina. Others betoken that the Bateke were the foremost occupants, after the Pygmies, inward Central Congo, which may hold upwards an sweat to claim to hold upwards foremost occupiers of the the world (Ndinga-Mbo 1981: 75). The foremost metal-working together with plantation burning inward the Haut Ogooue were noted inward 400 B.C. (Clist 1995).
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 stopover of Chief Makoko inward Brazzaville, French Congo. Leader inward uniform with tribe. French flag inward the background. Congo Français. Photograph past times J. Audema General. circa 1905
Establishment of the Bateke kingdom: domains ruled past times the world spirits
In M-C. Dupré’s comprehensive piece of employment on Bateke history every bit viewed through the lens of metallic working, she describes half dozen periods inward Bateke history from K AD to nowadays (Dupré together with Pinçon 1997). With information contributed from archaeological findings at the edges of the Bateke kingdom, historical notes, together with oral history from the Bateke Tsayi of Zanaga, Congo, Dupré proposes a cyclical history centering on the “dilemma of human being versus riches” (1997:199).
Throughout the half dozen phases proposed, at that spot is a bi-cephalous dominion with a style towards i or the other of 2 poles: that of frugality represented past times the hamlet master copy together with that of excess represented past times the the world chief. The style was driven externally past times factors of resources extraction, trade, together with unusual influence. In the next subdivision I attempt to mesh Dupré’s together with Vansina’s perspectives on Bateke history.
Early inward Bateke history, about K AD, metallic working was prominent together with the mediator betwixt humans together with the the world spirits was the ngaa, or medicine man. Land spirits, or nkira, were a source of political powerfulness inward the landscape, mediated past times a the world chief, or ngantse. Vansina notes that this was the foremost stair inward the emergence of the savanna kingdoms due south of the equatorial rainforest (Vansina 1990). Around 1100AD, at that spot is the foremost centralisation of powerfulness on the plateaus with the introduction of a supreme the world spirit: the Nkwe Mbali, symbolised past times the lion. This spirit, also called the “Lion’s court” is, to this day, spiritually centred on the Lefini River’s Mah Falls, inward the Republic of Congo where half dozen anvils are buried. These anvils correspond the powerfulness of the Bateke ruler, the Onkoo (or Makoko) together with v ngaa. At this point, at that spot is a centralisation of powerfulness over 4 plateaus (between Mbe together with the Koukouya Plateau) together with the formation of the Bateke kingdom which ruled over the 12 domains (subdivisions of the world ruled past times the world chiefs) of the Mbe Plateau where the Onkoo lived. Elsewhere inward the savannas due south of the equatorial pelting forest, the Kongo together with Loango kingdoms were developing inward line with the Tio (eastern Bateke) kingdom, which Vansina dates to the 1300s.
Visitor bows earlier Teke Makoko (King)
The Bateke kingdom is the to the lowest degree centralised of the three, where the the world chiefs autonomously held sway over their territories, mediating betwixt the nature spirits together with humankind. Land chiefs also existed inward the Kongo kingdom, but at that spot they were direct accountable to the king. Where the Bateke based their dominion on a nature spirit, the next kingdoms ruled past times virtue of their ancestors. The geographical expanse associated with nkira coincides almost precisely with that of the geographical
distribution of Bateke people. In contrast, the Teke-derived nkani political construction (based on
judges) expanded good beyond the borders of the Tio Kingdom (Vansina 1990: 148).
Charles David Ganao (20 July 1927 – 6 July 2012) was a Teke human being together with a Congolese pol who served every bit Prime Minister of the Congo-Brazzaville from 27 August 1996 to 8 September 1997. Ganao was born inward Djambala, inward the present-day Plateaux Department of the Republic of Congo.
According to Dupré together with Pinçon, past times 1200-1400 AD merchandise relations were developing for the foremost fourth dimension at the Bateke kingdom’s edges. Migrations towards the due south occur together with it is a fourth dimension of warfare against the Kongo kingdom. During the 1500s commerce on the Congo River becomes of import with the opening of the large marketplace at Malebo Pool (between Brazzaville together with Kinshasa). At this point, the Onkoo strikes a bargain with a major Bateke river trader of the Congo named Ngobila. Ngobila, who formerly paid tribute to the Onkoo, is straight off liberated from this duty together with is the only soul also the Onkoo empowered to have on the sacred Panthera leo skin. The Loango are trading partners with the Bateke inward the interior together with the Portuguese observations inward 1598 are the foremost written accounts of the Bateke together with other peoples (Pigafetta together with Lopés 1883).
The Portuguese acquire inward into merchandise with the Loango kingdom together with export slaves to Brazil (Pinçon 1991). At this point, the slave merchandise becomes a diversifying factor inward the economy; it equalizes the condition of people, reducing the concentration of powerfulness inward the elite groups past times creating a merchant middle class (Vansina 1990).
Separation of the northward western Bateke from the Tio Kingdom: Amaya Mokini
and the ascent of the leopard
During the 1600-1700s economical activity destabilizes the potency of the Onkoo; additionally a serial of powerful cults are introduced inward various plateaus which compete with the Onkoo’s authority. The major challenge is the introduction of a powerful cult surrounding 12 nkobi fetish boxes; these infiltrated the Tio Kingdom along the Likouala merchandise route, most probable originating with the Loango Lemba cult (Vansina 1990). Vansina indicates that the Atlantic merchandise increased riches dramatically, allowing rulers to purchase the nkobi fetishes. By 1750, this allowed the Bateke on the northern border of the Tio kingdom to adopt this choice source of powerfulness together with acquire independent from the kingdom.
Bateke people of Gabon. Circa 1905
It is at this fourth dimension that the spiritual centre of Amaya Mokini gains prominence; it is the highest dot on the Ogooué-Congo River drainage split together with the centre of north-western Bateke mpu or power. The Nkani gain powerfulness together with shape a decentralised ruling scheme based on “small states organised inward community villages nether the potency of a chief” (Ebouli 2001: 32). This creates a serial of hierarchies that Ebouli classifies inward descending monastic say every bit province (kasi) to the world (ntse) to hamlet (mpuru) to business solid (ndjo); each flat having a leader. This is inward stark contrast to the Tio Kingdom inward which powerfulness is strictly centralised at Mbé.
The King Makoko Ilo flanked the casket containing the treaty of cession of territories Bateke to France. Circa 1880.
As a farther contrast to the Onkoo’s Nkwe Mbali, Amaya Mokini is called Nkwe a Nzami or the
“Court of God”. According to Dupré together with Pinçon (1997), Moubie, a Bateke-Tsayi hero, was one
of the foremost to discovery the powerfulness of Amaya, an deed which shortly attracted the attending of the
Koukouya, the Teke-Alima, the Ntsabi, together with fifty-fifty the Onkoo himself. In myth, Amaya is an expanse named after the boy from an illegitimate union betwixt the married adult woman of an nkani together with a the world master copy named Amaya. Dupré together with Pinçon (1997) betoken that this shape of myth telling, inward which many political price are layered, is typical inward Bateke history. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 identify of mystic origins, stories of Amaya Mokini are silent kept past times the ebaningi, the one-time emissaries of the the world master copy (Le Bomin 2004).
Amaya Mokini represents a difference from the dominion past times the Tio Kingdom. Tio potency is
replaced past times the Nkani, an initiation brotherhood (Ebouli 2001) whose powerfulness is based on the
leopard (Dupré together with Pinçon 1997). “One sees how the trips to Amaya Mokini served to reorganise
the relationships betwixt various Teke groups” (Dupré together with Pinçon 1997: 74). From
the ascent of Amaya every bit an choice Teke powerfulness base, a serial of novel political structures are cast
inward the unlike subgroups. The Koukouya Plateau sees the ascent of the leopard together with the
introduction of the heaven lords who fought it (Bonnafé 1978). The coming of the heaven lords
changed the way inward which the the world master copy ruled, creating a bi-cephalous system, where world and
heaven lords ruled together. Further to the south, the discoverer of Amaya’s powerfulness moves into
Teke-Tsayi country, bringing the Nzineke lords together with a political construction organised about the
Moubial chiefs (Dupré 1990; Dupré together with Pinçon 1997). Leopard symbolism penetrates many
parts of the area, creating novel political alliances together with replacing the Panthera leo of the Tio Kingdom in
many plateaus except Mbé itself.
These events grade the disintegration of the Onkoo’s power. For the Tsayi, Dupré (1997) notes that at that spot were out-migrations from the Koukouya Plateau to avoid the tribute human relationship with the Onkoo. Further separating the eastern Bateke from those of the edges, about 1840 a serial of border wars broke out betwixt the northern Teke, the Mbede, together with Mboshi (Vansina 1990). The Mboshi pushed the north-western Bateke out of the Alima expanse together with into the nowadays solar daytime Lékoni expanse (Dupré & Pinçon 1997; Lotte 1953), which inward plow pushed the N’dumu towards Franceville (Milleto 1951).
The Onkoo together with de Brazza: 1880
Despite wars together with a loss of supporters, the Onkoo silent held sway over the Pool expanse on the Congo River. During these perturbations inward together with about the Kingdom, de Brazza was exploring the plateaus inward the trading interests of the French (de Brazza 1888; de Brazza 1887). In de Brazza’s move notes, he carefully delimited the extent of the Bateke kingdom (Brunschwig 1972:52; thirty Oct 1880 de Brazza). Brunschwig notes that these limits stretched from Nkhemi River due south to Malebo Pool together with and then inland to the Mpama River close the Koukouya Plateau. He farther notes that the Mfuunu of Congo-Kinshasa, the Nguugalu of the River, together with the Koukouya all recognized the importance of the Onkoo but did non take hold a tribute human relationship with him together with were non represented inward his courtroom (Brunschwig 1972: 52). It was during this fourth dimension of reduced influence of the Tio Kingdom that the French signed a merchandise treaty with the Bateke of the Pool (de Brazza 1880). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 twelvemonth later, inward 1881, Stanley made an agreement with a powerful Teke ivory trader named Ngaliema to flora a send service inward nowadays solar daytime Kinshasa (Pakenham 1992: 151).
De Brazza`s convoy of Batéké Franceville inward Le Monde illustrated, 1884 (© MCAD)
By 1884, the signatory Onkoo had died (Dolisie 1927), prompting the French to estimate the identity of the novel successor together with how he would influence trade. The Bateke silent controlled the Pool despite force per unit of measurement area from the Bobangi river traders. Vansina writes that 8 years after signing the treaty, the contest with the European economic scheme significantly reduced Tio trading powerfulness (Vansina 1973: Chapter XI). Guiral inward 1889 noted the preference past times Central Africans for European wares together with the contest this created for locally-made items. As the Congo River merchandise gained importance, merchandise past times river replaced traditional overland merchandise that used human foot paths which had i time connected the Tio together with Loango kingdoms (Vansina 1973).
Artistic impression of Teke Ilo Makoko
During this fourth dimension of increased merchandise inward the Pool area, the Bateke began to withdraw from the merchandise economic scheme together with moved into the plateaus. While the Bobangi river traders pushed into the Pool, at that spot were increased Bateke migrations northward out of the Tio Kingdom. Vansina (1973: 496) notes that,
"Like the bear on of the environment, the bear on of external merchandise tin hold upwards found inward all
aspects of life. It was so serious that inward the 1880s the ecological residual betwixt man
together with his surroundings on the plains was disturbed."
Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza inward Congo
This disturbance was linked to depression labour availability to grow nutrient for the urban market, and
malnutrition. Dupré interprets this withdrawal every bit a render to the the world spirits because the Bateke
attributed the sleeping sickness epidemic that had struck the plateaus to their neglect.
Concessions together with the rural exodus: 1900s
According to Papy, the interior plateaus held footling economical involvement for the French, resulting inward their reduced contact with the Bateke than compared with neighbouring groups (1949). Coquery-Vidrovitch’s piece of employment on the concession scheme inward the AEF gives some insight into the reduced economical evolution inward the area. In the Alima area, fossil oil palm plantations together with Ongokea fruit gathering operations were introduced, all the same the French considered the Bateke to hold upwards indifferent, non intelligent, together with nifty sorcerers.
The Bateke themselves chose to withdraw rather than submit to the French who they felt had
deposed their ruler. Coquery-Vidrovitch (1972) indicates that the French left the Congo “backcountry” somewhat untouched, maintaining only weak activities inward the plateaus. The Bateke themselves seemed to hold upwards especially resistant to these activities to the grade that they are fifty-fifty called, “losers”.
Bateke of Congo sidelined inward their one-time territories (1950s)
Brazzaville was established on Bateke territory but, rather than working with resident Bateke, the French brought inward labourers from neighbouring ethnic groups. In Potopoto, a workers’ urban center developed exterior Brazzaville, the Bateke numbered 3,200 out of 37,800 workers. In 1950, the Bateke numbered 4,000 to the 16,000 Balali (Sautter 1966: 384). This didn’t sit down good with the
Bateke residents, who proclaimed, "de Brazza a dit que cette terre était aux Bateke. Brazza a signé la grande paix avec les Bateke. Je dis, moi, aux Balali: cette terre n'est pas à toi, tu es un
voleur. Papy 1949 : 128
Cultural portrayal of Ngalifourou, Queen of Teke (Congo)
These sentiments take hold been sung past times Bateke instrumentalist “N'gantshie” Strervos Niarcos of Kinshasa, together with descendent of the Roi Ngaliema, one-time the world master copy of Kinshasa inward the 1880s. Niarcos sang of Bateke the world loss on his album “Bateke”. However, he most notably sang virtually the Religion Kitende, a cult devoted to European article of apparel (pers. comm. J. Trappido, 2009).
Mbé, the working capital missive of the alphabet of the Bateke kingdom, was cutting off from Brazzaville until the 1960s when the route was improved. Strangely, the Bateke who were i time the major trading partners of the French had dispersed either into their remote together with “inhospitable” plateaus or into an urban guild where they were mere labourers (Sautter 1966: 384). Some consider that the Bateke lost out inward modern Congo society, despite beingness the foremost negotiators with de Brazza together with Stanley (Sautter 1966: 385).
Economy
Bateke economic scheme is mostly agrarian. There are 2 large-scale types of tillage that are
conducted: woods plantations (ngwunu) together with savanna plantations (ntieni). Additionally at that spot are
little gardens behind houses inward the hamlet (obugha). Trees are planted throughout the village.
Forest plantations (ngwunu): These plantations are the major source of cultivated foods. These are to a greater extent than often than non jointly managed past times married persons who split the labour into the manlike soul role of cutting downwards the large trees inward the novel plantation, together with the woman soul role of planting, weeding, together with harvesting. Sometimes single women desiring a plantation volition solicit labour from the youth or single men together with compensate them with food, alcohol, or money. Some members of the elite every bit good every bit city-dwellers from the hamlet volition engage the hamlet women’s association to brand plantations inward their absence. Additionally, some women volition go into town to assist their urban relatives brand plantations at that spot or to brand smaller secondary plantations for their ain consumption during frequent town stays.
Early inward the long dry out flavor inward June, men together with women laid virtually clearing the brush inward the subcanopy
of the forest. By early on July, the men start out the chore of chopping downwards the large trees. The vegetation is left to dry out together with past times mid-August the plantations are ready to burn. Planting begins inward September or October. Crops planted inward ngwunu include manioc (Manihot esculenta Crantz), 3 to 4 varieties of woods yams (Dioscorea sp.), calabash (Lagenaria sp.), little amounts of corn (Zea mays L.), Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd., Basella alba L., Celosia argentea L., Solanum sp. (ntiangui) together with gourds for their fossil oil seeds (Cucumeropsis mannii Naudin). Extensive plantations of
pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) are planted, something that began inward the 1950s. These are used for vino making. Formerly, vino was only made from the naturalised together with smaller species of Ananas sativus Schult. & Schult. f. which is found inward the forest, some hunting camps, together with old hamlet sites. Some women silent get together these pineapples, which are sweeter, for vino making. This is locally referred to every bit the Bateke pineapple (kantu atege)
Savanna tillage (antieni): Following the planting of ngwunu, inward Oct together with Nov women do plantations or antieni. These plantations are largely for yams but may also incorporate manioc. This procedure occurs inward novel savanna non far from the hamlet but exterior the caprine animal grazing zone. Antieni (sometimes called apayi or ekala) tin hold upwards created inward groups or alone. The procedure consists of using a large hoe to overturn the sod, creating long furrows (ekala) numbering virtually xx inward the average plantation. These furrows are together with then planted with at to the lowest degree 3 varieties of savanna yam (e.g. mva) together with i variety of a tuber (njolo) inward the mint family. Also planted are Bateke
groundnuts (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.), oseille (Rumex sp.), tobacco (Nicotiana sp.), and
sesame (Sesamum radiatum Schumach. & Thonn.). The knife which was used to split the yam roots which were planted is left inward the savanna plantations, struck inward the ground, until the foremost leaves of the yams grow. This ensures success of the plantation.
These plantations require footling maintenance. Once they are planted, they are left until the harvest period: February-March for the leafage together with seed crops, together with July-August for the root crops. Antieni are guarded against predation (particularly against bush pig) together with past times burning of the tall grass surrounding the plantation simply after it is planted. This also avoids accidental fires afterward destroying the crops.
Dawn gardens (obugha): Behind houses inward the village, little vegetable or medicinal flora gardens are created. Vansina called these little easily-accessible areas, “dawn gardens”. These are surrounded past times fences to maintain the goats out, together with the soil is often improved past times the improver of vegetable compost. Vegetables cultivated include aubergine (Solanum sp.), oseille, hot peppers (Capsicum anuum L.), taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott), together with sometimes tomatoes (Lycopersicon sp.). Medicinal plants include non-natives such every bit Sansevieria Thunb., njuma-njuma (Ocimum sp.), together with Lantana camara L. Banana trees (Musa sp.) are sometimes planted inward these gardens to commemorate a birth. It is hither that the placenta of the new-born is buried; later, when severely sick, this soul may take hold a healing ceremony conducted nether his/her tree.
Cultivated fruit trees: Non-native fruit trees are often planted inward hamlet forests. These trees sometimes betoken the one-time homesteads of deceased relatives. The primary tree species planted are mango (Mangifera indica L.), avocado (Persea americana Mill.), fossil oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), together with atanga (Dacryodes edulis) trees. Despite their scattered nature throughout the village, fruit trees ever take hold an possessor who has a correct to the harvest. The harvest of these trees is
commonly consumed past times the owner’s household, but sometimes surplus fruit may hold upwards sold. Oil palm, i of the most of import plants inward hamlet life, yields many products including oil, fruit, fibre, together with fermentable sap. Only a few decades ago, the cutting downwards of an fossil oil palm to brand palm vino was forbidden since a tree provided much to a greater extent than than wine. Wine was only harvested past times climbing to the top together with securing the sap without killing the tree. Now, fossil oil palms are regularly cutting downwards for making palm wine.
Hunting: Hunting is a passion for the Bateke. Since component subdivision of this study is related to the savanna hunting tradition, this shape of hunting volition hold upwards described inward particular later. Cable traps are sometimes laid about plantations or along trap-lines. These are checked regularly. Animals trapped this way include porcupine or little gazelles. Sometimes men volition hunt lone inward the savanna or woods with guns. These tin hold upwards brusk excursions or long expeditions on foot, involving camping. Prey of various sizes is targeted including medium-sized birds.
Hunting is sometimes done past times groups of 6-7 men. The political party uses a long light-weight internet (now made of synthetic materials together with purchased ready-made) together with dogs to hunt porcupine together with little antelope. Previously, stouter nets called awungu were used to grab bush-pig, a arts and crafts which was introduced to the Bateke past times the neighbouring Obamba woods people at a fourth dimension when bush squealer were devastating their plantations. Today, these stout nets are no longer used nor are bush squealer caught inward anything but traps or with guns. However, internet hunting for porcupine continues. Post hunt, long lengths of these nets tin hold upwards found drying inward the Sun behind houses.
Hunting with dogs is the norm. Formerly dogs would have on ndimbi bells that would assist hunters inward distinguishing their dogs inward the forest. Today, dogs are used to drive game into nets or to run downwards game that has been shot.
Fishing: Fish supplements the brute poly peptide inward diet throughout the year. While salted together with smoked fish are sometimes bought inward town, fresh fish is regularly caught with a variety of methods. Sometimes a solitary affair, most active line-fishing occurs past times people working inward groups.
Passive fishing: the capture of fish inward the absence of the fisher past times way of nets, traps, or hooks.
Lassoua: these narrow cone-shaped traps are constructed from palm fibres. During the rainy season, simply earlier a heavy rain, dams are built across little rivers together with these traps are placed within the dam to grab fish.
Kayoubi: This trap is a circular cage with a one-way entry. Bait is placed within together with the cage is
submerged inward H2O to attract fish together with frogs. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 little door on the side aids removal of the catch.
Night-hooks: At nightfall, men volition laid baited hooks inward little rivers to grab catfish. The lines are checked the next morning.
Nets: Small nets are sometimes installed inward little rivers. These are inward places of slow access where the net-owner tin banking venture check them regularly, such every bit next to the manioc processing stations.
Active fishing: the capture of fish when the fisher is present.
Bucket (kayuba): This tin occur inward rivers or inward floodplains. When conducted inward rivers, the river
is dammed off together with emptied with buckets to harvest the fish that are left behind. Often these
areas are close the manioc processing stands inward the river, together with the walls are left mostly intact.
Thus line-fishing tin occur easily next manioc processing at the halt of the day. The wall is
reinstated, together with groups of women volition exercise buckets to empty all the H2O within the barrier. In
the floodplain, during the dry out flavor when the lakes inward the savannas together with floodplains are
start to dry out up, women volition dam together with empty portions of these.
Stream diversion: sometimes men volition brand little ox-bows out of woods streastreams to privatise a
line-fishing spot. Once close Saaye, a major river (the Obia) was diverted for a solar daytime past times women to capture fish inward the drying river-bed.
Pole fishing: This type of line-fishing is done throughout the twelvemonth inward rivers together with lakes.
Noodling: searching submerged holes inward river banks for catfish. Holes are located together with the fisher
inserts ones manus into the hole, blindly immobilising the fish’s fins together with stingers, together with removes it.
Sometimes fishers’ bodies are nearly fully submerged during this activity. This shape of fishing
yields large fish.
Vegetation mat searching: Vegetation mats may also hold upwards searched. Working waist deep inward the river, women volition uproot all the vegetation inward a little stretch together with simultaneously flip it over. Then, the vegetation mat is systematically searched for hiding fish.
Basket (njili): In drier times of the year, but non necessarily during the long dry out season, groups of women volition go line-fishing with baskets called njili. These are essentially mats that take hold been folded inward one-half together with saltation together to do rectangular, loose-weave baskets. The oral fissure is widened with a roll of liana. Small lakes together with portions of oxbow lakes are dammed with aquatic plants together with earth.
Then, all vegetation is removed from the interior of the lake. One to 2 smaller njili are installed inward these dams with their mouths facing inwards towards the line-fishing area. Groups of 2 together with then delineate larger njili betwixt them to dredge the bottom of the lake, stopping regularly to upright the handbasket together with take away fish, frogs, tadpoles, together with trailing vegetation. Every sixty minutes or so, the njili inward the dams are “rushed”, important that a two-some volition drag their large njili towards the halt basket, forcing some fish to rush into it. The 2 baskets are simultaneously uprighted together with the fish removed. The in conclusion sixty minutes is spent noodling.
This type of line-fishing is an all-day affair requiring a grouping of virtually 8 women. All sizes of little together with large fish are kept, every bit are frogs together with tadpoles. The grab is divided evenly with all fisherwomen. Often fresh fish is prepared rapidly over a can together with eaten simply earlier heading identify that evening.
Social Organisation amidst the Teke
This is non a centralized state, together with the potency of the Rex is inward a higher identify all religious. The Teke Rex is sacred. He plays an intermediary role betwixt the spirits together with the living. He is the guarantee of both fertility together with cosmic order. He was aided past times 3 people that made him undergo a serial of enthronement rites over a menstruum of 2 years. The diviner (Nganga) predicted the duration of the king’s reign past times carrying out magical processes. The griots recalled past times history, such every bit the justice together with courage of kings. The king’s main duty was to save the prosperity of his kingdom past times carrying out specific rituals.
Each identify unit of measurement came nether the orders of the master copy of the identify unit of measurement who had absolute life together with expiry rights over the identify unit of measurement members. The greater the identify unit of measurement unit, the greater the prestige of the chief, together with chiefs would take hold on increasing numbers of slaves inward monastic say to increment this prestige.
The hamlet elected a master copy together with this master copy was subordinate to the clan master copy who controlled several villages. The master copy of the clan possessed a fetish figure called’ begetter of the earth’, which was a large wooden statue. The lower dorsum of the statue had a band of fabric about it, a slice of metallic was stuck inward the bellybutton together with the eyes were made from 2 fragments of woman parent of pearl. This fetish figure guaranteed the good beingness together with the fertility of the village’s inhabitants. This figure presided over festivities together with rituals. It was the guardian of monastic say together with could exclude anybody that behaved badly.
At a religious level, the hamlet master copy chosen to hold upwards the religious master copy was the most important. He owned a handbasket containing the os remains of ancestors together with magical statues.
The Teke often chose the blacksmith every bit the hamlet chief, he was an of import figure together with his responsibleness was hereditary. The diviner (Nganga), who was at the same fourth dimension a healer together with a witch, was really powerful. He was paid to give personal statues their protecting powers, together with to play the role of priest inward example of expiry or illness. His tools were a mirror, several statuettes, a plume duster, together with a rattle made from a hollow dry out fruit.
Among the masculine Mungala society, the clan chiefs together with the diviners (Nganga) assured the instruction of the time to come initiates.
To do a novel hamlet the diviner uses a magical statuette together with a bell. He tries to obtain the ancestor’s understanding when choosing the seat of the novel village. Once the Nganga has found it, the men dig a hole, pour inward some palm vino together with and then fill upwards the hole inward with white clay. The aim is to give thank yous the ancestors together with to obtain their protection.
Religious Belief
The Teke believed inward a Supreme Being together with creator of the universe, called Nzami. However, they only worshipped an ancestral cult nether the supervision of the diviner (Nganga). The Teke worshipped the cult of the genies or spirits of nature. They hoped to obtain their assistance, together with when they went hunting they carried with them a little statue to convey them luck.
Nganga way sage, magician, judge, or priest. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 soul becomes Nganga either past times inheriting the seat or next a dream. The Nganga owns a statuette containing the soul of an ancestor called Tamakuwi. He is also capable of uncovering witches.
Among the Teke, the cult of the ancestors is really important. The ancestors alive inward the sacred forests, close rivers, inward clearings, inward caves…If the descendants do non honour their ancestors they believe that they volition come upwards dorsum to torment them, hold upwards it with sickness, or mental illness. In monastic say to avoid this, each identify unit of measurement worships its ancestors. This cult materializes itself inward anthropomorphic statues.
Teke Statues
Teke statues take hold a religious function, but are inward a higher identify all used for their magical qualities. The Teke take hold 2 sorts of statue: the Nkida which do non take hold a magical charge, together with the Butti which do.
Teke statues are little inward size, betwixt 15 together with lxxx cm. There are to a greater extent than often than non parallel lines along the cheeks that correspond tattoos. The forms are squat. The style of the statues is ‘cubist’ with angular forms together with a helm shaped coiffure. The trapezoid beard is a sign of potency together with prestige amidst the Teke. The oral fissure has of import ritualistic significance; one-half opened upwards but doesn’t let on the teeth. The arms are usually downwards past times the sides, bent at a correct angle, the hands placed on either side of the stomach; sometimes they take hold a magical accuse or ‘bilongo’. The legs are usually bent, but at that spot are some squatting statues. Teke statues are rarely feminine.
The statue may take hold been made past times the Nganga or the soul who wants to ain it, mayhap the identify unit of measurement chief. It is also possible that a professional person sculptor was charged with both the making together with sale of the statue.
Nkida statues correspond an of import soul that has passed on (a famous hunter, a begetter or woman parent of a large family, a nifty cook, a good known warrior, a adept fisherman, a nifty warrior…). This statue is uniquely representative; it does non send a magical charge.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Butti statue is only effective if it has been consecrated past times a diviner or Nganga. The diviner puts a serial of various ingredients inward a little cavity inward the statue’s stomach. For a magical statue this mightiness be; vegetable matter, brute or minerals, together with if it is a statue of an ancestor, the magical accuse mightiness incorporate hair, nails, or pieces of the dead person’s skin. This mixture is called ‘Bilongo’ or remedy. The reliquary statues of the ancestors are kept inward houses together with worshipped. They to a greater extent than often than non take hold a beautiful shiny patina due to the large seat out of fossil oil libations, ruddy powder, together with fruit together with seeds that take hold been chewed together with spat out. The condition of the ancestor represented past times the statue is signified past times a metallic necklace.
In monastic say to obtain the services of the magical Butti statue, the foremost solar daytime of the novel or total moon, an ointment made of ruddy pulverisation together with fossil oil are made for the statue. These rites take hold identify inward the forenoon together with mightiness occur earlier a hunt, a journey, or an of import sale…
Janus statues are those of the chiefs.
The shape of Bilongo often indicates the business office of the statue.
Before leaving for a large game hunt, the diviner calls upon the divine forces. Small statues of betwixt 6 together with 12 cm are carried on the hunter’s arms to protect the expedition. Similarly to the other statues, their stomachs are covered inward a poultice made of brute matter.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 special statuette, with a cylindrical impasto is used past times the Nganga to ease the pains of pregnant women. After the birth, the placenta is buried inward the business solid where the shaver volition hold upwards raised. Part of the placenta is also used to mix inward with the ingredients for the statue’s magical accuse together with volition protect the shaver upwards until puberty. This statue is placed inward a higher identify the burial dot of the placenta.
As good every bit his usual tools (bell made from brass or wood, mirror, plume duster), the Nganga owns a certainly seat out of little statues. One of these, called ‘Matompa’, helps to avoid slumber sickness (trypanosomiasis). For the ceremony dedicated to the struggle against this illness, the diviner sacrifices a seat out of chickens together with shaver goats, according to the wealth of the village. The animal’s blood is mixed with certainly magical substances together with is introduced into the hollow infinite inward the statue’s stomach. The statue is together with then wrapped inward a slice of fabric which is attached with a slice of string to the cervix together with hips. When the statue is finished it is offered to the chief. The ceremony ends inward a dance.
Teke Masks
The Teke from the North West, notably the Tsaye, used little disc shaped masks inward the framework of their undercover guild called Kidumu. This political together with religious guild intervened inward all the major events inward the social life of the village, notably: the spousal human relationship of a notary, a chief’s death, circumcision, an alliance, a judgement. The mask wearer danced lone accompanied past times an orchestra at the halt of the ceremony.
These circular apartment masks, divided horizontally past times a strip, are decorated with abstract geometric motifs, white, black, blue, ruddy or brown. Holes were made about the border inward monastic say to claw on a costume made of raffia, feathers together with fibres which hid the dancer. Two slits allowed the dancer to reckon out without beingness seen. At the dorsum of the mask, a roll on 3 sides surrounded the dancer’s head.
Other Objects Made past times the Teke
The Teke also made axes together with metallic necklaces, notably inward yellowish copper.
Source:http://eprints.ucl.ac.uk/20195/1/20195.pdf
"Makoko, the King of Bateke."
Creator: unknown
Date: 01.01.1918-31.12.1945
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