Info For You Lot Teke (Bateke/Tio) People: Ancient Riverine Warriors, Cultural Dominant Together With Politically Powerful Ethnic Grouping Inward Fundamental Africa
The Teke people (Tio/Bateke) are an amalgamation of agriculturalist, skillful fishermen in addition to 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 in addition to the due north of Republic of Congo, in addition to south-western Democratic Republic of Congo (Dupré & Pinçon 1997).
The call "Teke" way "to buy," in addition to it shows the line of piece of job of the people was trading. According to their denomination, François Ewani (1979:56) states that "the price Teke in addition to Tyos designate the same people speaking the Kiteke linguistic communication or Etyo".
Its population is situated mainly inwards the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Congo-Brazzaville in addition to with a minority inwards Gabon. In the Republic of Congo, Teke tin can live found inwards the departments of the Plateaux where they are the major community in addition to are neighbours of the Mbosi in addition to the Moye, the Cuvette-ouest where they are neighbours of the Mbosi, the Pool where they are neighbours of the Kongo, the Niari in addition to the Bouenza where they are neighbours of the Kongo, in addition to the Lekoumou where they are neighbours of the Kongo.
Several subgroups shape the large whole human Teke. One tin can 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 inwards traditional costume
According to Abraham Constant Ndinga-Mbo (1984:49) Teke are the oldest stratum of the Bantu population inwards the Republic of Congo. The historical analysis considers 3 ways of the firstly Bantu migration movements, leaving all of the basin of the Nile: the southern way, the equatorial way in addition to the northern way. The Bantu groups borrowed the Nordic way. Indeed, this itinerary is the 1 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 in 1 lawsuit 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 spell borrowing 3 directions (Guthrie, 1985):
- The firstly moving ridge had driven the Bantu from the zone betwixt the Benue in addition to the Cross-country spell next the Atlantic coast, colonizing the part betwixt the Sangha in addition to the Ogoué;
- The 2d in addition to the 3rd allowed the Bantu to cross the large equatorial woods from the eastward to the west. The firstly grouping crossed the class of the high Ogoué to attain the Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool). The 2d grouping reached the Congo past times the Sangha.
These directions seem to live those that would take hold been followed past times the Teke peoples living inwards Gabonese Republic in addition to Congo, in addition to the Maka of the Sangha, after several centuries of rest inwards the part of the Bénoué that they would take hold reached earlier 2500 BC.
The firstly migrants, the Teke that occupy the high hills covered with savannas in addition to shallows accommodating some forests galleries, arrived on these lands earlier 1400 of our era. They already knew to piece of job with Fe in addition to to weave the raffia that they found inwards the galleries. They already practiced agriculture in addition to hunt inwards savanna with tools made of iron, the breeding of goats in addition to poultry. Their nutrient régime, since the installation on their nowadays land, is dominated past times the tubers: cassava, yam in addition to potatoes.
Teke human from the Republic of Congo
Dominique Ngoie Ngalla (1985) referring to the founding myths, reveals that the Teke would come upward downwards from Nguunu, this ancestor of most populations of the south-Congo. Successors of the Pygmies (Tswa, Baboongo in addition to Babi) inwards the penetration inwards 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, competition of the Kongo kingdom. In 15th in addition to 16th centuries, Teke waged a state of war with the Kongo to southwest, in addition to past times the mid-fifteenth century they were powerful traders inwards tobacco in addition to slaves. The Teke kingdom, past times the early on 18th century, grown large in addition to real powerful through merchandise in addition to armed forces conquest. It extended on both sides of the Congo (DR) River from Malebo Pool (formerly Stanley Pool) northward to the expanse about Bolobo.
Their manful mortal monarch (Onkoo) is known inwards history nether the appellation of Makoko. Under the thrust, nearly simultaneous of the Mbosi to the due north in addition to the Kongo to the south, the Teke abandoned vast extended of their territories to confine themselves inwards their nowadays boundaries where in that location are inwards the centre vast in addition to arid hills in addition to mountains.
In 1880, Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza- French citizen- started a trading station, which after became Brazzaville, nigh Malebo Pool. De Brazza met the bang-up Teke King, Ilo Makoko in addition to 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 in addition to 20th centuries the French operated a harsh, violent, in addition to oppressive regime, in addition to Ilo Makoko`s successor tried unsuccessfully to revolt against the Colonialist inwards 1898. Over 3 quarters of the Tekes were killed inwards reprisals. Independence was lastly won 1960 every bit constituent of the Republic of the Congo.
The Teke historically breed dogs in addition to cats for domestic purposes. The chien Bateke is a little lean hunting Canis familiaris with a short, medium gray 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 in addition to breeder organizations). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bulk of domesticated cats in addition to dogs inwards areas bordering the Congo River are of these breeds, though ownership of domesticated animals inwards full general is rare inwards the region.
The notable Teke people include Omar Bongo, quondam President of Gabon, in addition to 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; xxx Dec 1935 – 8 June 2009), was an ethnic Teke human in addition to a Gabonese pol who was President of Gabonese Republic for 41 years from 1967 until his expiry inwards 2009.
Teke are also known for their creative arts. Tekestatues take hold a religious function, but are higher upward all used for their magical qualities. The Teke take hold 2 sorts of statue: the Nkida which do non take hold a magical charge, in addition to the Butti which do.
Teke statues are little inwards size, betwixt 15 in addition to eighty cm. There are by in addition to large parallel lines along the cheeks that correspond tattoos. The forms are squat. The style of the statues is ‘cubist’ with angular forms in addition to a helm shaped coiffure. The trapezoid beard is a sign of authorisation in addition to prestige amid the Teke. The oral fissure has of import ritualistic significance; one-half opened upward but doesn’t reveal 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 in that location are some squatting statues. Teke statues are rarely feminine.
Nkida statues correspond an of import mortal that has passed on (a famous hunter, a manful mortal parent or woman parent of a large family, a bang-up cook, a good known warrior, a skillful fisherman, a bang-up warrior…). This statue is uniquely representative; it does non send a magical charge.
The Teke from the North West, notably the Tsaye, utilisation little disc shaped masks. These circular apartment masks, divided horizontally past times a strip, are decorated with abstract geometric motifs, white, black, blue, crimson or brown. Holes were made about the border inwards monastic enjoin to claw on a costume made of raffia, feathers in addition to fibres which hid the dancer. Two slits allowed the dancer to catch out without existence 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; in addition to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The plateaus themselves are a serial of half dozen elevated areas located primarily inwards the Republic of Congo. In Gabon, the Bateke Plateaux expanse comprises the foothills of these largely Congolese plateaus.
Soils in addition to Geology: Dominated past times grassland in addition to riparian forests, these plateaus are constituent of an ancient sand dune scheme called the Kalahari Sands (Haddon 2000). The Kalahari Sands scheme finds its northernmost extension inwards Central Africa (Haddon 2000). The plateaus are composed of 2 layers of sands including aeolian deposits from the Tertiary catamenia from the Kalahari Desert in addition to a 2d layer of ochre sands (Peyrot 1991). The sands correspond some of the deepest sand deposits inwards the world. In Gabon, they shape the split upward betwixt the Ogooué in addition to Congo River basins.
These sands in addition to their savannas terminate abruptly inwards 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 in addition to grassland dwelling solid people, plants, in addition to animals.
The Bateke Plateaux landscape also comprises numerous cirques which are attributed to erosion
related to special rainfall events inwards the past; these cirques are inwards various stages of revegetation
(Schwartz in addition to Lanfranchi 1990: 169). The sands take hold a high percolation charge per unit of measurement resulting inwards heavy H2O loss despite high rainfall. This high rainfall sometimes confuses vegetation modellers whose models predict woods encompass for the plateau expanse (see Delire et al. 2008). In the Kalahari Sands inwards Zimbabwe, sand depth in addition to soil wet take hold the greatest upshot on vegetation construction (Childes in addition to Walker 1987). Despite this, inwards a continental broad comparing of savannas, the Kalahari Sands had a higher than expected density of trees (Sankaran et al. 2005). This may live partially explained past times rooting depth (Holdo in addition to Timberlake 2008).
Rainfall in addition to Climate: Gabon’s rainfall varies from 3,300 mm per twelvemonth on the coast to every bit niggling every bit 1,500 mm inwards 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 hand the ranges ordinarily reported for the expanse including 2,000-2,250 (Vande Weghe 2008: 33), 1000-2,000 (White 1983: 73), 1,800-
2,000 (Mpoinza in addition to Samba-Kimbata 1990: 36), or “greater than 1600 mm” (Schwartz in addition to Lanfranchi 1990: 169). In the plateau area, rains seem to live quite variable depending on whether 1 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 inwards the illustration of the 2,890 mm reading at the hamlet of Ekouyi. Irregularity is to live expected betwixt years, however, rainfall variation inwards the Plateaux Bateke is special in addition to tin can vary past times to a greater extent than than 15% betwixt years (a variability only rivaled past times Mt. Cameroon) (Mpounza in addition to Samba-Kimbata 1990: 39).
According to PPG records, daytime temperatures were nearly constant 2004 – 2006 ranging
betwixt 24.4 – 26.8°C. However, dark fourth dimension temperatures vary seasonally, existence notably colder
than daytime temperatures inwards the dry out season. Wind management in addition to tempest fronts also alter seasonally, with dry out flavour winds coming from the south-west in addition to rainy flavour winds coming from the north-west.
Fauna: Faunal diverseness is non exceptionally rich, but the species assemblage is unusual for this constituent of Gabon. In this region, lions in 1 lawsuit roamed the savanna, Grimm’s duiker finds its make limit
(Kingdon 1997), every bit do numerous flora species to a greater extent than mutual inwards the Zambesian vegetation to the south. The most mutual creature species inwards these savannas are Grimm’s Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), Side-striped Jackal (Canis adustus), Yellow-backed Duiker (Cephalophus silvicultor), in addition to to a lesser extent the African Civet (Civettictis civetta), Forest Buffalo (Syncerus caffer subsp. nanus) in addition to 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 inwards the savanna, but most grassland species are non endemic to the area
(Walters et al. 2006). The savanna vegetation ecology has been studied inwards depth, particularly
about Brazzaville (Koechlin 1961a; Koechlin 1957). In the Plateaux Bateke, several habitats be including a variety of grasslands (humid, woody, in addition to herbaceous). These are scattered betwixt copses in addition to riparian forests. These savannas terminate where the major woods block begins (see White 1983). There seems to live niggling correspondence betwixt sand type in addition to savanna type, specially inwards the opened upward in addition to shrubby types. Therefore, catena drawings take hold non been given.
Herbaceous savanna (kape): This category represents grassland without a major woody factor (e.g. except for occasional individuals of Annona senegalensis) Grasses tin can vary inwards ascendancy in addition to 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, in addition to Sporobolus congoensis Franch.
Wooded savanna (mpila): Wooded grassland abuts the border of the woods in addition to is dominated past times the savanna trees Hymenocardia acida Tul. in addition to 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., in addition to Vitex madiensis Oliv. Sometimes beneath the canopy of Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.) W. Wight trees dense stands of Aframomum alboviolaceum (Ridl.) K. Schum. in addition to Hyparrhenia cyanescens (Stapf) Stapf tin can live found inwards 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, in addition to 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., in addition to are sometimes associated with the woody species Clappertonia ficifolia Decne.
Copses (kadjia): Copses are little forests that are often quondam hamlet sites, ofttimes located on loma 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. in addition to Millettia laurentii De Wild.. Fruit trees tin can also live nowadays including avocado in addition to sapho (Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J. Lam). These areas are
sometimes cultivated in addition to sometimes used every bit sources of gathered materials for basketry, leafage sauces, in addition to wild fruits. The canopies of these copses are often punctured past times emergent crude oil palms; these show 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 inwards the B70-B79 make (Guthrie 1953). Numerous attempts take hold been made to assort the languages in addition to hence the people, with various authors attempting to subdivide them into every bit many every bit sixteen 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 inwards both the Republic of Congo in addition to Gabonese Republic indicates that in that location are 12 linguistic communication subgroups comprising merely about 390,000 speakers inwards the 3 countries.
Bateke early on migrations
Vansina’s (1990) seminal piece of job 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 M AD; smaller migrations continued influenced past times politics in addition to resources. During this early on stage inwards history, Vansina (1990) notes the evolution of nature spirit-linked reason tenure in addition to the ascension 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 in that location was articulation institution of several ethnic groups including the Kongo, Bateke, in addition to Vili peoples (Ebouli 2001; Soret 1973). Soret indicates that this myth matches observations past times the Portuguese inwards the 1500s (1973: fig. 35), however, this analysis predates that of the linguistic 1 offered past times Vansina. Others dot that the Bateke were the firstly occupants, after the Pygmies, inwards Central Congo, which may live an endeavour to claim to live firstly occupiers of the reason (Ndinga-Mbo 1981: 75). The firstly metal-working in addition to plantation burning inwards the Haut Ogooue were noted inwards 400 B.C. (Clist 1995).
Establishment of the Bateke kingdom: domains ruled past times reason spirits
In M-C. Dupré’s comprehensive piece of job on Bateke history every bit viewed through the lens of metallic working, she describes half dozen periods inwards Bateke history from M AD to nowadays (Dupré in addition to Pinçon 1997). With information contributed from archaeological findings at the edges of the Bateke kingdom, historical notes, in addition to oral history from the Bateke Tsayi of Zanaga, Congo, Dupré proposes a cyclical history centering on the “dilemma of human versus riches” (1997:199).
Throughout the half dozen phases proposed, in that location is a bi-cephalous dominion with a vogue towards 1 or the other of 2 poles: that of frugality represented past times the hamlet main in addition to that of excess represented past times the reason chief. The vogue was driven externally past times factors of resources extraction, trade, in addition to unusual influence. In the next subdivision I essay to mesh Dupré’s in addition to Vansina’s perspectives on Bateke history.
Early inwards Bateke history, about M AD, metallic working was prominent in addition to the mediator betwixt humans in addition to the reason spirits was the ngaa, or medicine man. Land spirits, or nkira, were a source of political powerfulness inwards the landscape, mediated past times a reason chief, or ngantse. Vansina notes that this was the firstly stair inwards the emergence of the savanna kingdoms due south of the equatorial rainforest (Vansina 1990). Around 1100AD, in that location is the firstly centralisation of powerfulness on the plateaus with the introduction of a supreme reason 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, inwards the Republic of Congo where half dozen anvils are buried. These anvils correspond the powerfulness of the Bateke ruler, the Onkoo (or Makoko) in addition to 5 ngaa. At this point, in that location is a centralisation of powerfulness over 4 plateaus (between Mbe in addition to the Koukouya Plateau) in addition to the formation of the Bateke kingdom which ruled over the 12 domains (subdivisions of reason ruled past times reason chiefs) of the Mbe Plateau where the Onkoo lived. Elsewhere inwards the savannas due south of the equatorial pelting forest, the Kongo in addition to Loango kingdoms were developing inwards 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 reason chiefs autonomously held sway over their territories, mediating betwixt the nature spirits in addition to humankind. Land chiefs also existed inwards the Kongo kingdom, but in that location they were straight accountable to the king. Where the Bateke based their dominion on a nature spirit, the side past times side kingdoms ruled past times virtue of their ancestors. The geographical expanse associated with nkira coincides almost just 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 in addition to Pinçon, past times 1200-1400 AD merchandise relations were developing for the firstly fourth dimension at the Bateke kingdom’s edges. Migrations towards the due south occur in addition to 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 in addition to 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 right away liberated from this duty in addition to is the only mortal also the Onkoo empowered to have on the sacred king of beasts skin. The Loango are trading partners with the Bateke inwards the interior in addition to the Portuguese observations inwards 1598 are the firstly written accounts of the Bateke in addition to other peoples (Pigafetta in addition to Lopés 1883).
The Portuguese come inwards into merchandise with the Loango kingdom in addition to export slaves to Brazil (Pinçon 1991). At this point, the slave merchandise becomes a diversifying factor inwards the economy; it equalizes the condition of people, reducing the concentration of powerfulness inwards the elite groups past times creating a merchant middle class (Vansina 1990).
Separation of the due north western Bateke from the Tio Kingdom: Amaya Mokini
and the ascension of the leopard
During the 1600-1700s economical activity destabilizes the authorisation of the Onkoo; additionally a serial of powerful cults are introduced inwards 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 option source of powerfulness in addition to 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 upward in addition to the centre of north-western Bateke mpu or power. The Nkani gain powerfulness in addition to shape a decentralised ruling scheme based on “small states organised inwards community villages nether the authorisation of a chief” (Ebouli 2001: 32). This creates a serial of hierarchies that Ebouli classifies inwards descending monastic enjoin every bit province (kasi) to reason (ntse) to hamlet (mpuru) to solid (ndjo); each plane having a leader. This is inwards stark contrast to the Tio Kingdom inwards 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 in addition to Pinçon (1997), Moubie, a Bateke-Tsayi hero, was one
of the firstly to uncovering the powerfulness of Amaya, an human activity which before long attracted the attending of the
Koukouya, the Teke-Alima, the Ntsabi, in addition to 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 in addition to a reason main named Amaya. Dupré in addition to Pinçon (1997) dot that this shape of myth telling, inwards which many political price are layered, is typical inwards Bateke history. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 identify of mystic origins, stories of Amaya Mokini are soundless kept past times the ebaningi, the quondam emissaries of the reason main (Le Bomin 2004).
Amaya Mokini represents a divergence from the dominion past times the Tio Kingdom. Tio authorisation is
replaced past times the Nkani, an initiation brotherhood (Ebouli 2001) whose powerfulness is based on the
leopard (Dupré in addition to Pinçon 1997). “One sees how the trips to Amaya Mokini served to reorganise
the relationships betwixt various Teke groups” (Dupré in addition to Pinçon 1997: 74). From
the ascension of Amaya every bit an option Teke powerfulness base, a serial of novel political structures are cast
inwards the unlike subgroups. The Koukouya Plateau sees the ascension of the leopard in addition to the
introduction of the heaven lords who fought it (Bonnafé 1978). The coming of the heaven lords
changed the way inwards which the reason main 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 in addition to a political construction organised about the
Moubial chiefs (Dupré 1990; Dupré in addition to Pinçon 1997). Leopard symbolism penetrates many
parts of the area, creating novel political alliances in addition to replacing the king of beasts 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 in that location 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, in addition to Mboshi (Vansina 1990). The Mboshi pushed the north-western Bateke out of the Alima expanse in addition to into the nowadays twenty-four lx minutes catamenia Lékoni expanse (Dupré & Pinçon 1997; Lotte 1953), which inwards plough pushed the N’dumu towards Franceville (Milleto 1951).
The Onkoo in addition to de Brazza: 1880
Despite wars in addition to a loss of supporters, the Onkoo soundless held sway over the Pool expanse on the Congo River. During these perturbations inwards in addition to about the Kingdom, de Brazza was exploring the plateaus inwards the trading interests of the French (de Brazza 1888; de Brazza 1887). In de Brazza’s go notes, he carefully delimited the extent of the Bateke kingdom (Brunschwig 1972:52; xxx Oct 1880 de Brazza). Brunschwig notes that these limits stretched from Nkhemi River due south to Malebo Pool in addition to so inland to the Mpama River nigh the Koukouya Plateau. He farther notes that the Mfuunu of Congo-Kinshasa, the Nguugalu of the River, in addition to the Koukouya all recognized the importance of the Onkoo but did non take hold a tribute human relationship with him in addition to were non represented inwards 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, inwards 1881, Stanley made an agreement with a powerful Teke ivory trader named Ngaliema to found a postal service inwards nowadays twenty-four lx minutes catamenia Kinshasa (Pakenham 1992: 151).
By 1884, the signatory Onkoo had died (Dolisie 1927), prompting the French to gauge the identity of the novel successor in addition to how he would influence trade. The Bateke soundless controlled the Pool despite pressure level 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 inwards 1889 noted the preference past times Central Africans for European wares in addition to 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 in 1 lawsuit connected the Tio in addition to Loango kingdoms (Vansina 1973).
Artistic impression of Teke Ilo Makoko
During this fourth dimension of increased merchandise inwards the Pool area, the Bateke began to withdraw from the merchandise economic scheme in addition to moved into the plateaus. While the Bobangi river traders pushed into the Pool, in that location were increased Bateke migrations northward out of the Tio Kingdom. Vansina (1973: 496) notes that,
"Like the bear upon of the environment, the bear upon of external merchandise tin can live found inwards all
aspects of life. It was so serious that inwards the 1880s the ecological remainder betwixt man
in addition to his surroundings on the plains was disturbed."
Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza inwards 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 reason spirits because the Bateke
attributed the sleeping sickness epidemic that had struck the plateaus to their neglect.
Concessions in addition to the rural exodus: 1900s
According to Papy, the interior plateaus held niggling economical involvement for the French, resulting inwards their reduced contact with the Bateke than compared with neighbouring groups (1949). Coquery-Vidrovitch’s piece of job on the concession scheme inwards the AEF gives some insight into the reduced economical evolution inwards the area. In the Alima area, crude oil palm plantations in addition to Ongokea fruit gathering operations were introduced, withal the French considered the Bateke to live indifferent, non intelligent, in addition to bang-up 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 inwards the plateaus. The Bateke themselves seemed to live specially resistant to these activities to the grade that they are fifty-fifty called, “losers”.
While other populations inwards Congo were used every bit labourers inwards mineral exploitation, specially 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 inwards Coquery-Vidrovitch 1972:83).
Bateke of Congo sidelined inwards their quondam territories (1950s)
Brazzaville was established on Bateke territory but, rather than working with resident Bateke, the French brought inwards labourers from neighbouring ethnic groups. In Potopoto, a workers’ metropolis 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, in addition to descendent of the Roi Ngaliema, quondam reason main of Kinshasa inwards the 1880s. Niarcos sang of Bateke reason loss on his album “Bateke”. However, he most notably sang virtually the Religion Kitende, a cult devoted to European wearable (pers. comm. J. Trappido, 2009).
Mbé, the uppercase of the Bateke kingdom, was cutting off from Brazzaville until the 1960s when the route was improved. Strangely, the Bateke who were in 1 lawsuit the major trading partners of the French had dispersed either into their remote in addition to “inhospitable” plateaus or into an urban social club where they were mere labourers (Sautter 1966: 384). Some consider that the Bateke lost out inwards modern Congo society, despite existence the firstly negotiators with de Brazza in addition to 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) in addition to savanna plantations (ntieni). Additionally in that location are
little gardens behind houses inwards the hamlet (obugha). Trees are planted throughout the village.
Forest plantations (ngwunu): These plantations are the major source of cultivated foods. These are by in addition to large jointly managed past times married persons who split the labour into the manful mortal role of cutting downwards the large trees inwards the novel plantation, in addition to the woman mortal role of planting, weeding, in addition to harvesting. Sometimes single women desiring a plantation volition solicit labour from the youth or single men in addition to 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 inwards their absence. Additionally, some women volition go into town to assist their urban relatives brand plantations in that location or to brand smaller secondary plantations for their ain consumption during frequent town stays.
Early inwards the long dry out flavour inwards June, men in addition to women laid virtually clearing the brush inwards the subcanopy
of the forest. By early on July, the men commence the chore of chopping downwards the large trees. The vegetation is left to dry out in addition to past times mid-August the plantations are ready to burn. Planting begins inwards September or October. Crops planted inwards 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) in addition to gourds for their crude oil seeds (Cucumeropsis mannii Naudin). Extensive plantations of
pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) are planted, something that began inwards the 1950s. These are used for vino making. Formerly, vino was only made from the naturalised in addition to smaller species of Ananas sativus Schult. & Schult. f. which is found inwards the forest, some hunting camps, in addition to old hamlet sites. Some women soundless 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, inwards Oct in addition to Nov women do plantations or antieni. These plantations are largely for yams but may also comprise manioc. This procedure occurs inwards novel savanna non far from the hamlet but exterior the caprine animal grazing zone. Antieni (sometimes called apayi or ekala) tin can live created inwards groups or alone. The procedure consists of using a large hoe to overturn the sod, creating long furrows (ekala) numbering virtually 20 inwards the average plantation. These furrows are so planted with at to the lowest degree 3 varieties of savanna yam (e.g. mva) in addition to 1 variety of a tuber (njolo) inwards 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 upward the yam roots which were planted is left inwards the savanna plantations, struck inwards the ground, until the firstly leaves of the yams grow. This ensures success of the plantation.
These plantations require niggling maintenance. Once they are planted, they are left until the harvest period: February-March for the leafage in addition to seed crops, in addition to July-August for the root crops. Antieni are guarded against predation (particularly against bush pig) in addition to past times burning of the tall grass surrounding the plantation merely after it is planted. This also avoids accidental fires after destroying the crops.
Dawn gardens (obugha): Behind houses inwards 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 hold the goats out, in addition to the soil is often improved past times the add-on of vegetable compost. Vegetables cultivated include aubergine (Solanum sp.), oseille, hot peppers (Capsicum anuum L.), taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott), in addition to sometimes tomatoes (Lycopersicon sp.). Medicinal plants include non-natives such every bit Sansevieria Thunb., njuma-njuma (Ocimum sp.), in addition to Lantana camara L. Banana trees (Musa sp.) are sometimes planted inwards these gardens to commemorate a birth. It is hither that the placenta of the new-born is buried; later, when severely sick, this mortal may take hold a healing ceremony conducted nether his/her tree.
Cultivated fruit trees: Non-native fruit trees are often planted inwards hamlet forests. These trees sometimes dot the quondam homesteads of deceased relatives. The primary tree species planted are mango (Mangifera indica L.), avocado (Persea americana Mill.), crude oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), in addition to 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
ordinarily consumed past times the owner’s household, but sometimes surplus fruit may live sold. Oil palm, 1 of the most of import plants inwards hamlet life, yields many products including oil, fruit, fibre, in addition to fermentable sap. Only a few decades ago, the cutting downwards of an crude 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 in addition to securing the sap without killing the tree. Now, crude oil palms are regularly cutting downwards for making palm wine.
Hunting: Hunting is a passion for the Bateke. Since constituent of this study is related to the savanna hunting tradition, this shape of hunting volition live described inwards item 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 lonely inwards the savanna or woods with guns. These tin can live curt 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 cyberspace (now made of synthetic materials in addition to purchased ready-made) in addition to dogs to hunt porcupine in addition to 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 inwards anything but traps or with guns. However, cyberspace hunting for porcupine continues. Post hunt, long lengths of these nets tin can live found drying inwards the Sun behind houses.
Hunting with dogs is the norm. Formerly dogs would have on ndimbi bells that would assistance hunters inwards distinguishing their dogs inwards the forest. Today, dogs are used to drive game into nets or to run downwards game that has been shot.
Fishing: Fish supplements the creature poly peptide inwards diet throughout the year. While salted in addition to smoked fish are sometimes bought inwards town, fresh fish is regularly caught with a variety of methods. Sometimes a solitary affair, most active line-fishing occurs past times people working inwards groups.
Passive fishing: the capture of fish inwards 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, merely earlier a heavy rain, dams are built across little rivers in addition to 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 in addition to the cage is
submerged inwards H2O to attract fish in addition to 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 inwards little rivers to grab catfish. The lines are checked the next morning.
Nets: Small nets are sometimes installed inwards little rivers. These are inwards places of slow access where the net-owner tin can banking concern 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 can occur inwards rivers or inwards floodplains. When conducted inwards rivers, the river
is dammed off in addition to emptied with buckets to harvest the fish that are left behind. Often these
areas are nigh the manioc processing stands inwards the river, in addition to the walls are left mostly intact.
Thus line-fishing tin can occur easily next manioc processing at the terminate of the day. The wall is
reinstated, in addition to groups of women volition utilisation buckets to empty all the H2O within the barrier. In
the floodplain, during the dry out flavour when the lakes inwards the savannas in addition to floodplains are
starting fourth dimension to dry out up, women volition dam in addition to empty portions of these.
Stream diversion: sometimes men volition brand little ox-bows out of woods streastreams to privatise a
line-fishing spot. Once nigh Saaye, a major river (the Obia) was diverted for a twenty-four lx minutes catamenia past times women to capture fish inwards the drying river-bed.
Pole fishing: This type of line-fishing is done throughout the twelvemonth inwards rivers in addition to lakes.
Noodling: searching submerged holes inwards river banks for catfish. Holes are located in addition to the fisher
inserts ones paw into the hole, blindly immobilising the fish’s fins in addition to stingers, in addition to 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 live searched. Working waist deep inwards the river, women volition uproot all the vegetation inwards a little stretch in addition to 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 inwards one-half in addition to outflow together to do rectangular, loose-weave baskets. The oral fissure is widened with a gyre of liana. Small lakes in addition to portions of oxbow lakes are dammed with aquatic plants in addition to earth.
Then, all vegetation is removed from the interior of the lake. One to 2 smaller njili are installed inwards these dams with their mouths facing inwards towards the line-fishing area. Groups of 2 so trace larger njili betwixt them to dredge the bottom of the lake, stopping regularly to upright the handbasket in addition to take fish, frogs, tadpoles, in addition to trailing vegetation. Every lx minutes or so, the njili inwards the dams are “rushed”, pregnant that a two-some volition drag their large njili towards the terminate basket, forcing some fish to rush into it. The 2 baskets are simultaneously uprighted in addition to the fish removed. The concluding lx 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 in addition to large fish are kept, every bit are frogs in addition to tadpoles. The grab is divided evenly with all fisherwomen. Often fresh fish is prepared chop-chop over a can in addition to eaten merely earlier heading identify that evening.
Social Organisation amid the Teke
This is non a centralized state, in addition to the authorisation of the manful mortal monarch is higher upward all religious. The Teke manful mortal monarch is sacred. He plays an intermediary role betwixt the spirits in addition to the living. He is the guarantee of both fertility in addition to cosmic order. He was aided past times 3 people that made him undergo a serial of enthronement rites over a catamenia 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 in addition to courage of kings. The king’s main duty was to save the prosperity of his kingdom past times carrying out specific rituals.
Each menage unit of measurement came nether the orders of the main of the menage unit of measurement who had absolute life in addition to expiry rights over the menage unit of measurement members. The greater the menage unit of measurement unit, the greater the prestige of the chief, in addition to chiefs would accept on increasing numbers of slaves inwards monastic enjoin to increment this prestige.
The hamlet elected a main in addition to this main was subordinate to the clan main who controlled several villages. The main of the clan possessed a fetish figure called’ manful mortal parent of the earth’, which was a large wooden statue. The lower dorsum of the statue had a band of stuff about it, a slice of metallic was stuck inwards the bellybutton in addition to the eyes were made from 2 fragments of woman parent of pearl. This fetish figure guaranteed the good existence in addition to the fertility of the village’s inhabitants. This figure presided over festivities in addition to rituals. It was the guardian of monastic enjoin in addition to could exclude anybody that behaved badly.
At a religious level, the hamlet main chosen to live the religious main was the most important. He owned a handbasket containing the os remains of ancestors in addition to magical statues.
The Teke often chose the blacksmith every bit the hamlet chief, he was an of import figure in addition to his responsibleness was hereditary. The diviner (Nganga), who was at the same fourth dimension a healer in addition to a witch, was real powerful. He was paid to give personal statues their protecting powers, in addition to to play the role of priest inwards illustration of expiry or illness. His tools were a mirror, several statuettes, a plume duster, in addition to a rattle made from a hollow dry out fruit.
Among the masculine Mungala society, the clan chiefs in addition to the diviners (Nganga) assured the didactics of the futurity initiates.
To do a novel hamlet the diviner uses a magical statuette in addition to 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 inwards some palm vino in addition to so fill upward the hole inwards with white clay. The aim is to give thank y'all the ancestors in addition to to obtain their protection.
Religious Belief
The Teke believed inwards a Supreme Being in addition to 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, in addition to 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 mortal 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 real important. The ancestors alive inwards the sacred forests, nigh rivers, inwards clearings, inwards caves…If the descendants do non award their ancestors they believe that they volition come upward dorsum to torment them, live it with sickness, or mental illness. In monastic enjoin to avoid this, each menage unit of measurement worships its ancestors. This cult materializes itself inwards anthropomorphic statues.
Teke Statues
Teke statues take hold a religious function, but are higher upward all used for their magical qualities. The Teke take hold 2 sorts of statue: the Nkida which do non take hold a magical charge, in addition to the Butti which do.
Teke statues are little inwards size, betwixt 15 in addition to eighty cm. There are by in addition to large parallel lines along the cheeks that correspond tattoos. The forms are squat. The style of the statues is ‘cubist’ with angular forms in addition to a helm shaped coiffure. The trapezoid beard is a sign of authorisation in addition to prestige amid the Teke. The oral fissure has of import ritualistic significance; one-half opened upward but doesn’t reveal 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 in that location are some squatting statues. Teke statues are rarely feminine.
The statue may take hold been made past times the Nganga or the mortal who wants to ain it, maybe the menage unit of measurement chief. It is also possible that a professional person sculptor was charged with both the making in addition to sale of the statue.
Nkida statues correspond an of import mortal that has passed on (a famous hunter, a manful mortal parent or woman parent of a large family, a bang-up cook, a good known warrior, a skillful fisherman, a bang-up 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 inwards a little cavity inwards the statue’s stomach. For a magical statue this mightiness be; vegetable matter, creature or minerals, in addition to if it is a statue of an ancestor, the magical accuse mightiness comprise 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 inwards houses in addition to worshipped. They by in addition to large take hold a beautiful shiny patina due to the large discover of crude oil libations, crimson powder, in addition to fruit in addition to seeds that take hold been chewed in addition to spat out. The condition of the ancestor represented past times the statue is signified past times a metallic necklace.
In monastic enjoin to obtain the services of the magical Butti statue, the firstly twenty-four lx minutes catamenia of the novel or total moon, an ointment made of crimson pulverisation in addition to crude oil are made for the statue. These rites accept identify inwards the morn in addition to 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 constituent of the statue.
Before leaving for a large game hunt, the diviner calls upon the divine forces. Small statues of betwixt 6 in addition to 12 cm are carried on the hunter’s arms to protect the expedition. Similarly to the other statues, their stomachs are covered inwards a poultice made of creature 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 inwards the solid where the fry volition live raised. Part of the placenta is also used to mix inwards with the ingredients for the statue’s magical accuse in addition to volition protect the fry upward until puberty. This statue is placed higher upward 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 discover 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 discover of chickens in addition to fry goats, according to the wealth of the village. The animal’s blood is mixed with certainly magical substances in addition to is introduced into the hollow infinite inwards the statue’s stomach. The statue is so wrapped inwards a slice of stuff which is attached with a slice of string to the cervix in addition to hips. When the statue is finished it is offered to the chief. The ceremony ends inwards a dance.
Teke Masks
The Teke from the North West, notably the Tsaye, used little disc shaped masks inwards the framework of their underground social club called Kidumu. This political in addition to religious social club intervened inwards all the major events inwards the social life of the village, notably: the matrimony of a notary, a chief’s death, circumcision, an alliance, a judgement. The mask wearer danced lonely accompanied past times an orchestra at the terminate of the ceremony.
These circular apartment masks, divided horizontally past times a strip, are decorated with abstract geometric motifs, white, black, blue, crimson or brown. Holes were made about the border inwards monastic enjoin to claw on a costume made of raffia, feathers in addition to fibres which hid the dancer. Two slits allowed the dancer to catch out without existence 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 in addition to metallic necklaces, notably inwards xanthous 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," in addition to it shows the line of piece of job of the people was trading. According to their denomination, François Ewani (1979:56) states that "the price Teke in addition to Tyos designate the same people speaking the Kiteke linguistic communication or Etyo".
Its population is situated mainly inwards the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Congo-Brazzaville in addition to with a minority inwards Gabon. In the Republic of Congo, Teke tin can live found inwards the departments of the Plateaux where they are the major community in addition to are neighbours of the Mbosi in addition to the Moye, the Cuvette-ouest where they are neighbours of the Mbosi, the Pool where they are neighbours of the Kongo, the Niari in addition to the Bouenza where they are neighbours of the Kongo, in addition to the Lekoumou where they are neighbours of the Kongo.
Teke people
Several subgroups shape the large whole human Teke. One tin can 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 inwards traditional costume
According to Abraham Constant Ndinga-Mbo (1984:49) Teke are the oldest stratum of the Bantu population inwards the Republic of Congo. The historical analysis considers 3 ways of the firstly Bantu migration movements, leaving all of the basin of the Nile: the southern way, the equatorial way in addition to the northern way. The Bantu groups borrowed the Nordic way. Indeed, this itinerary is the 1 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 in 1 lawsuit 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 spell borrowing 3 directions (Guthrie, 1985):
- The firstly moving ridge had driven the Bantu from the zone betwixt the Benue in addition to the Cross-country spell next the Atlantic coast, colonizing the part betwixt the Sangha in addition to the Ogoué;
- The 2d in addition to the 3rd allowed the Bantu to cross the large equatorial woods from the eastward to the west. The firstly grouping crossed the class of the high Ogoué to attain the Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool). The 2d grouping reached the Congo past times the Sangha.
Gabon`s President Ali Bongo Ondimba in addition to ethnic Teke human with his First Lady Sylvia Bongo Ondimba brand it at the opening ceremony of the Francophone Summit inwards Montreux
These directions seem to live those that would take hold been followed past times the Teke peoples living inwards Gabonese Republic in addition to Congo, in addition to the Maka of the Sangha, after several centuries of rest inwards the part of the Bénoué that they would take hold reached earlier 2500 BC.
The firstly migrants, the Teke that occupy the high hills covered with savannas in addition to shallows accommodating some forests galleries, arrived on these lands earlier 1400 of our era. They already knew to piece of job with Fe in addition to to weave the raffia that they found inwards the galleries. They already practiced agriculture in addition to hunt inwards savanna with tools made of iron, the breeding of goats in addition to poultry. Their nutrient régime, since the installation on their nowadays land, is dominated past times the tubers: cassava, yam in addition to potatoes.
Teke human from the Republic of Congo
Dominique Ngoie Ngalla (1985) referring to the founding myths, reveals that the Teke would come upward downwards from Nguunu, this ancestor of most populations of the south-Congo. Successors of the Pygmies (Tswa, Baboongo in addition to Babi) inwards the penetration inwards 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, competition of the Kongo kingdom. In 15th in addition to 16th centuries, Teke waged a state of war with the Kongo to southwest, in addition to past times the mid-fifteenth century they were powerful traders inwards tobacco in addition to slaves. The Teke kingdom, past times the early on 18th century, grown large in addition to real powerful through merchandise in addition to armed forces 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 nigh Leopoldville. Belgian postcard sent inwards 1913. © Look in addition to Learn / Elgar Collection
Their manful mortal monarch (Onkoo) is known inwards history nether the appellation of Makoko. Under the thrust, nearly simultaneous of the Mbosi to the due north in addition to the Kongo to the south, the Teke abandoned vast extended of their territories to confine themselves inwards their nowadays boundaries where in that location are inwards the centre vast in addition to arid hills in addition to mountains.
The Teke historically breed dogs in addition to cats for domestic purposes. The chien Bateke is a little lean hunting Canis familiaris with a short, medium gray 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 in addition to breeder organizations). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 bulk of domesticated cats in addition to dogs inwards areas bordering the Congo River are of these breeds, though ownership of domesticated animals inwards full general is rare inwards the region.
Casimir Zagourski (1883-1944), Teke Chief, Belgian Congo, L’Afrique qui disparait! Series 1, no. 3, c. 1929-37, Ag gelatin impress on postcard stock. Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution
The notable Teke people include Omar Bongo, quondam President of Gabon, in addition to 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; xxx Dec 1935 – 8 June 2009), was an ethnic Teke human in addition to a Gabonese pol who was President of Gabonese Republic for 41 years from 1967 until his expiry inwards 2009.
Teke are also known for their creative arts. Tekestatues take hold a religious function, but are higher upward all used for their magical qualities. The Teke take hold 2 sorts of statue: the Nkida which do non take hold a magical charge, in addition to the Butti which do.
Teke statues are little inwards size, betwixt 15 in addition to eighty cm. There are by in addition to large parallel lines along the cheeks that correspond tattoos. The forms are squat. The style of the statues is ‘cubist’ with angular forms in addition to a helm shaped coiffure. The trapezoid beard is a sign of authorisation in addition to prestige amid the Teke. The oral fissure has of import ritualistic significance; one-half opened upward but doesn’t reveal 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 in that location are some squatting statues. Teke statues are rarely feminine.
Butti statue Teke -Republic of Congo
Nkida statues correspond an of import mortal that has passed on (a famous hunter, a manful mortal parent or woman parent of a large family, a bang-up cook, a good known warrior, a skillful fisherman, a bang-up warrior…). This statue is uniquely representative; it does non send a magical charge.
The Teke from the North West, notably the Tsaye, utilisation little disc shaped masks. These circular apartment masks, divided horizontally past times a strip, are decorated with abstract geometric motifs, white, black, blue, crimson or brown. Holes were made about the border inwards monastic enjoin to claw on a costume made of raffia, feathers in addition to fibres which hid the dancer. Two slits allowed the dancer to catch out without existence 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; in addition to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The plateaus themselves are a serial of half dozen elevated areas located primarily inwards the Republic of Congo. In Gabon, the Bateke Plateaux expanse comprises the foothills of these largely Congolese plateaus.
Soils in addition to Geology: Dominated past times grassland in addition to riparian forests, these plateaus are constituent of an ancient sand dune scheme called the Kalahari Sands (Haddon 2000). The Kalahari Sands scheme finds its northernmost extension inwards Central Africa (Haddon 2000). The plateaus are composed of 2 layers of sands including aeolian deposits from the Tertiary catamenia from the Kalahari Desert in addition to a 2d layer of ochre sands (Peyrot 1991). The sands correspond some of the deepest sand deposits inwards the world. In Gabon, they shape the split upward betwixt the Ogooué in addition to Congo River basins.
These sands in addition to their savannas terminate abruptly inwards 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 in addition to grassland dwelling solid people, plants, in addition to animals.
The Bateke Plateaux landscape also comprises numerous cirques which are attributed to erosion
related to special rainfall events inwards the past; these cirques are inwards various stages of revegetation
(Schwartz in addition to Lanfranchi 1990: 169). The sands take hold a high percolation charge per unit of measurement resulting inwards heavy H2O loss despite high rainfall. This high rainfall sometimes confuses vegetation modellers whose models predict woods encompass for the plateau expanse (see Delire et al. 2008). In the Kalahari Sands inwards Zimbabwe, sand depth in addition to soil wet take hold the greatest upshot on vegetation construction (Childes in addition to Walker 1987). Despite this, inwards a continental broad comparing of savannas, the Kalahari Sands had a higher than expected density of trees (Sankaran et al. 2005). This may live partially explained past times rooting depth (Holdo in addition to Timberlake 2008).
Rainfall in addition to Climate: Gabon’s rainfall varies from 3,300 mm per twelvemonth on the coast to every bit niggling every bit 1,500 mm inwards 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 hand the ranges ordinarily reported for the expanse including 2,000-2,250 (Vande Weghe 2008: 33), 1000-2,000 (White 1983: 73), 1,800-
2,000 (Mpoinza in addition to Samba-Kimbata 1990: 36), or “greater than 1600 mm” (Schwartz in addition to Lanfranchi 1990: 169). In the plateau area, rains seem to live quite variable depending on whether 1 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 inwards the illustration of the 2,890 mm reading at the hamlet of Ekouyi. Irregularity is to live expected betwixt years, however, rainfall variation inwards the Plateaux Bateke is special in addition to tin can vary past times to a greater extent than than 15% betwixt years (a variability only rivaled past times Mt. Cameroon) (Mpounza in addition to Samba-Kimbata 1990: 39).
According to PPG records, daytime temperatures were nearly constant 2004 – 2006 ranging
betwixt 24.4 – 26.8°C. However, dark fourth dimension temperatures vary seasonally, existence notably colder
than daytime temperatures inwards the dry out season. Wind management in addition to tempest fronts also alter seasonally, with dry out flavour winds coming from the south-west in addition to rainy flavour winds coming from the north-west.
Fauna: Faunal diverseness is non exceptionally rich, but the species assemblage is unusual for this constituent of Gabon. In this region, lions in 1 lawsuit roamed the savanna, Grimm’s duiker finds its make limit
(Kingdon 1997), every bit do numerous flora species to a greater extent than mutual inwards the Zambesian vegetation to the south. The most mutual creature species inwards these savannas are Grimm’s Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), Side-striped Jackal (Canis adustus), Yellow-backed Duiker (Cephalophus silvicultor), in addition to to a lesser extent the African Civet (Civettictis civetta), Forest Buffalo (Syncerus caffer subsp. nanus) in addition to 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 inwards the savanna, but most grassland species are non endemic to the area
(Walters et al. 2006). The savanna vegetation ecology has been studied inwards depth, particularly
about Brazzaville (Koechlin 1961a; Koechlin 1957). In the Plateaux Bateke, several habitats be including a variety of grasslands (humid, woody, in addition to herbaceous). These are scattered betwixt copses in addition to riparian forests. These savannas terminate where the major woods block begins (see White 1983). There seems to live niggling correspondence betwixt sand type in addition to savanna type, specially inwards the opened upward in addition to shrubby types. Therefore, catena drawings take hold non been given.
Herbaceous savanna (kape): This category represents grassland without a major woody factor (e.g. except for occasional individuals of Annona senegalensis) Grasses tin can vary inwards ascendancy in addition to 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, in addition to Sporobolus congoensis Franch.
Wooded savanna (mpila): Wooded grassland abuts the border of the woods in addition to is dominated past times the savanna trees Hymenocardia acida Tul. in addition to 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., in addition to Vitex madiensis Oliv. Sometimes beneath the canopy of Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.) W. Wight trees dense stands of Aframomum alboviolaceum (Ridl.) K. Schum. in addition to Hyparrhenia cyanescens (Stapf) Stapf tin can live found inwards 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, in addition to 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., in addition to are sometimes associated with the woody species Clappertonia ficifolia Decne.
Copses (kadjia): Copses are little forests that are often quondam hamlet sites, ofttimes located on loma 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. in addition to Millettia laurentii De Wild.. Fruit trees tin can also live nowadays including avocado in addition to sapho (Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J. Lam). These areas are
sometimes cultivated in addition to sometimes used every bit sources of gathered materials for basketry, leafage sauces, in addition to wild fruits. The canopies of these copses are often punctured past times emergent crude oil palms; these show 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 inwards the B70-B79 make (Guthrie 1953). Numerous attempts take hold been made to assort the languages in addition to hence the people, with various authors attempting to subdivide them into every bit many every bit sixteen 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 inwards both the Republic of Congo in addition to Gabonese Republic indicates that in that location are 12 linguistic communication subgroups comprising merely about 390,000 speakers inwards the 3 countries.
Bateke early on migrations
Vansina’s (1990) seminal piece of job 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 M AD; smaller migrations continued influenced past times politics in addition to resources. During this early on stage inwards history, Vansina (1990) notes the evolution of nature spirit-linked reason tenure in addition to the ascension 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 in that location was articulation institution of several ethnic groups including the Kongo, Bateke, in addition to Vili peoples (Ebouli 2001; Soret 1973). Soret indicates that this myth matches observations past times the Portuguese inwards the 1500s (1973: fig. 35), however, this analysis predates that of the linguistic 1 offered past times Vansina. Others dot that the Bateke were the firstly occupants, after the Pygmies, inwards Central Congo, which may live an endeavour to claim to live firstly occupiers of the reason (Ndinga-Mbo 1981: 75). The firstly metal-working in addition to plantation burning inwards the Haut Ogooue were noted inwards 400 B.C. (Clist 1995).
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 stopover of Chief Makoko inwards Brazzaville, French Congo. Leader inwards uniform with tribe. French flag inwards the background. Congo Français. Photograph past times J. Audema General. circa 1905
Establishment of the Bateke kingdom: domains ruled past times reason spirits
In M-C. Dupré’s comprehensive piece of job on Bateke history every bit viewed through the lens of metallic working, she describes half dozen periods inwards Bateke history from M AD to nowadays (Dupré in addition to Pinçon 1997). With information contributed from archaeological findings at the edges of the Bateke kingdom, historical notes, in addition to oral history from the Bateke Tsayi of Zanaga, Congo, Dupré proposes a cyclical history centering on the “dilemma of human versus riches” (1997:199).
Throughout the half dozen phases proposed, in that location is a bi-cephalous dominion with a vogue towards 1 or the other of 2 poles: that of frugality represented past times the hamlet main in addition to that of excess represented past times the reason chief. The vogue was driven externally past times factors of resources extraction, trade, in addition to unusual influence. In the next subdivision I essay to mesh Dupré’s in addition to Vansina’s perspectives on Bateke history.
Early inwards Bateke history, about M AD, metallic working was prominent in addition to the mediator betwixt humans in addition to the reason spirits was the ngaa, or medicine man. Land spirits, or nkira, were a source of political powerfulness inwards the landscape, mediated past times a reason chief, or ngantse. Vansina notes that this was the firstly stair inwards the emergence of the savanna kingdoms due south of the equatorial rainforest (Vansina 1990). Around 1100AD, in that location is the firstly centralisation of powerfulness on the plateaus with the introduction of a supreme reason 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, inwards the Republic of Congo where half dozen anvils are buried. These anvils correspond the powerfulness of the Bateke ruler, the Onkoo (or Makoko) in addition to 5 ngaa. At this point, in that location is a centralisation of powerfulness over 4 plateaus (between Mbe in addition to the Koukouya Plateau) in addition to the formation of the Bateke kingdom which ruled over the 12 domains (subdivisions of reason ruled past times reason chiefs) of the Mbe Plateau where the Onkoo lived. Elsewhere inwards the savannas due south of the equatorial pelting forest, the Kongo in addition to Loango kingdoms were developing inwards 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 reason chiefs autonomously held sway over their territories, mediating betwixt the nature spirits in addition to humankind. Land chiefs also existed inwards the Kongo kingdom, but in that location they were straight accountable to the king. Where the Bateke based their dominion on a nature spirit, the side past times side kingdoms ruled past times virtue of their ancestors. The geographical expanse associated with nkira coincides almost just 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 in addition to a Congolese pol who served every bit Prime Minister of the Congo-Brazzaville from 27 August 1996 to 8 September 1997. Ganao was born inwards Djambala, inwards the present-day Plateaux Department of the Republic of Congo.
According to Dupré in addition to Pinçon, past times 1200-1400 AD merchandise relations were developing for the firstly fourth dimension at the Bateke kingdom’s edges. Migrations towards the due south occur in addition to 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 in addition to 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 right away liberated from this duty in addition to is the only mortal also the Onkoo empowered to have on the sacred king of beasts skin. The Loango are trading partners with the Bateke inwards the interior in addition to the Portuguese observations inwards 1598 are the firstly written accounts of the Bateke in addition to other peoples (Pigafetta in addition to Lopés 1883).
The Portuguese come inwards into merchandise with the Loango kingdom in addition to export slaves to Brazil (Pinçon 1991). At this point, the slave merchandise becomes a diversifying factor inwards the economy; it equalizes the condition of people, reducing the concentration of powerfulness inwards the elite groups past times creating a merchant middle class (Vansina 1990).
Separation of the due north western Bateke from the Tio Kingdom: Amaya Mokini
and the ascension of the leopard
During the 1600-1700s economical activity destabilizes the authorisation of the Onkoo; additionally a serial of powerful cults are introduced inwards 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 option source of powerfulness in addition to 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 upward in addition to the centre of north-western Bateke mpu or power. The Nkani gain powerfulness in addition to shape a decentralised ruling scheme based on “small states organised inwards community villages nether the authorisation of a chief” (Ebouli 2001: 32). This creates a serial of hierarchies that Ebouli classifies inwards descending monastic enjoin every bit province (kasi) to reason (ntse) to hamlet (mpuru) to solid (ndjo); each plane having a leader. This is inwards stark contrast to the Tio Kingdom inwards 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 in addition to Pinçon (1997), Moubie, a Bateke-Tsayi hero, was one
of the firstly to uncovering the powerfulness of Amaya, an human activity which before long attracted the attending of the
Koukouya, the Teke-Alima, the Ntsabi, in addition to 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 in addition to a reason main named Amaya. Dupré in addition to Pinçon (1997) dot that this shape of myth telling, inwards which many political price are layered, is typical inwards Bateke history. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 identify of mystic origins, stories of Amaya Mokini are soundless kept past times the ebaningi, the quondam emissaries of the reason main (Le Bomin 2004).
Amaya Mokini represents a divergence from the dominion past times the Tio Kingdom. Tio authorisation is
replaced past times the Nkani, an initiation brotherhood (Ebouli 2001) whose powerfulness is based on the
leopard (Dupré in addition to Pinçon 1997). “One sees how the trips to Amaya Mokini served to reorganise
the relationships betwixt various Teke groups” (Dupré in addition to Pinçon 1997: 74). From
the ascension of Amaya every bit an option Teke powerfulness base, a serial of novel political structures are cast
inwards the unlike subgroups. The Koukouya Plateau sees the ascension of the leopard in addition to the
introduction of the heaven lords who fought it (Bonnafé 1978). The coming of the heaven lords
changed the way inwards which the reason main 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 in addition to a political construction organised about the
Moubial chiefs (Dupré 1990; Dupré in addition to Pinçon 1997). Leopard symbolism penetrates many
parts of the area, creating novel political alliances in addition to replacing the king of beasts 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 in that location 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, in addition to Mboshi (Vansina 1990). The Mboshi pushed the north-western Bateke out of the Alima expanse in addition to into the nowadays twenty-four lx minutes catamenia Lékoni expanse (Dupré & Pinçon 1997; Lotte 1953), which inwards plough pushed the N’dumu towards Franceville (Milleto 1951).
The Onkoo in addition to de Brazza: 1880
Despite wars in addition to a loss of supporters, the Onkoo soundless held sway over the Pool expanse on the Congo River. During these perturbations inwards in addition to about the Kingdom, de Brazza was exploring the plateaus inwards the trading interests of the French (de Brazza 1888; de Brazza 1887). In de Brazza’s go notes, he carefully delimited the extent of the Bateke kingdom (Brunschwig 1972:52; xxx Oct 1880 de Brazza). Brunschwig notes that these limits stretched from Nkhemi River due south to Malebo Pool in addition to so inland to the Mpama River nigh the Koukouya Plateau. He farther notes that the Mfuunu of Congo-Kinshasa, the Nguugalu of the River, in addition to the Koukouya all recognized the importance of the Onkoo but did non take hold a tribute human relationship with him in addition to were non represented inwards 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, inwards 1881, Stanley made an agreement with a powerful Teke ivory trader named Ngaliema to found a postal service inwards nowadays twenty-four lx minutes catamenia Kinshasa (Pakenham 1992: 151).
De Brazza`s convoy of Batéké Franceville inwards Le Monde illustrated, 1884 (© MCAD)
By 1884, the signatory Onkoo had died (Dolisie 1927), prompting the French to gauge the identity of the novel successor in addition to how he would influence trade. The Bateke soundless controlled the Pool despite pressure level 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 inwards 1889 noted the preference past times Central Africans for European wares in addition to 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 in 1 lawsuit connected the Tio in addition to Loango kingdoms (Vansina 1973).
Artistic impression of Teke Ilo Makoko
During this fourth dimension of increased merchandise inwards the Pool area, the Bateke began to withdraw from the merchandise economic scheme in addition to moved into the plateaus. While the Bobangi river traders pushed into the Pool, in that location were increased Bateke migrations northward out of the Tio Kingdom. Vansina (1973: 496) notes that,
"Like the bear upon of the environment, the bear upon of external merchandise tin can live found inwards all
aspects of life. It was so serious that inwards the 1880s the ecological remainder betwixt man
in addition to his surroundings on the plains was disturbed."
Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza inwards 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 reason spirits because the Bateke
attributed the sleeping sickness epidemic that had struck the plateaus to their neglect.
Concessions in addition to the rural exodus: 1900s
According to Papy, the interior plateaus held niggling economical involvement for the French, resulting inwards their reduced contact with the Bateke than compared with neighbouring groups (1949). Coquery-Vidrovitch’s piece of job on the concession scheme inwards the AEF gives some insight into the reduced economical evolution inwards the area. In the Alima area, crude oil palm plantations in addition to Ongokea fruit gathering operations were introduced, withal the French considered the Bateke to live indifferent, non intelligent, in addition to bang-up 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 inwards the plateaus. The Bateke themselves seemed to live specially resistant to these activities to the grade that they are fifty-fifty called, “losers”.
Bateke of Congo sidelined inwards their quondam territories (1950s)
Brazzaville was established on Bateke territory but, rather than working with resident Bateke, the French brought inwards labourers from neighbouring ethnic groups. In Potopoto, a workers’ metropolis 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, in addition to descendent of the Roi Ngaliema, quondam reason main of Kinshasa inwards the 1880s. Niarcos sang of Bateke reason loss on his album “Bateke”. However, he most notably sang virtually the Religion Kitende, a cult devoted to European wearable (pers. comm. J. Trappido, 2009).
Mbé, the uppercase of the Bateke kingdom, was cutting off from Brazzaville until the 1960s when the route was improved. Strangely, the Bateke who were in 1 lawsuit the major trading partners of the French had dispersed either into their remote in addition to “inhospitable” plateaus or into an urban social club where they were mere labourers (Sautter 1966: 384). Some consider that the Bateke lost out inwards modern Congo society, despite existence the firstly negotiators with de Brazza in addition to 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) in addition to savanna plantations (ntieni). Additionally in that location are
little gardens behind houses inwards the hamlet (obugha). Trees are planted throughout the village.
Forest plantations (ngwunu): These plantations are the major source of cultivated foods. These are by in addition to large jointly managed past times married persons who split the labour into the manful mortal role of cutting downwards the large trees inwards the novel plantation, in addition to the woman mortal role of planting, weeding, in addition to harvesting. Sometimes single women desiring a plantation volition solicit labour from the youth or single men in addition to 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 inwards their absence. Additionally, some women volition go into town to assist their urban relatives brand plantations in that location or to brand smaller secondary plantations for their ain consumption during frequent town stays.
Early inwards the long dry out flavour inwards June, men in addition to women laid virtually clearing the brush inwards the subcanopy
of the forest. By early on July, the men commence the chore of chopping downwards the large trees. The vegetation is left to dry out in addition to past times mid-August the plantations are ready to burn. Planting begins inwards September or October. Crops planted inwards 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) in addition to gourds for their crude oil seeds (Cucumeropsis mannii Naudin). Extensive plantations of
pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) are planted, something that began inwards the 1950s. These are used for vino making. Formerly, vino was only made from the naturalised in addition to smaller species of Ananas sativus Schult. & Schult. f. which is found inwards the forest, some hunting camps, in addition to old hamlet sites. Some women soundless 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, inwards Oct in addition to Nov women do plantations or antieni. These plantations are largely for yams but may also comprise manioc. This procedure occurs inwards novel savanna non far from the hamlet but exterior the caprine animal grazing zone. Antieni (sometimes called apayi or ekala) tin can live created inwards groups or alone. The procedure consists of using a large hoe to overturn the sod, creating long furrows (ekala) numbering virtually 20 inwards the average plantation. These furrows are so planted with at to the lowest degree 3 varieties of savanna yam (e.g. mva) in addition to 1 variety of a tuber (njolo) inwards 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 upward the yam roots which were planted is left inwards the savanna plantations, struck inwards the ground, until the firstly leaves of the yams grow. This ensures success of the plantation.
These plantations require niggling maintenance. Once they are planted, they are left until the harvest period: February-March for the leafage in addition to seed crops, in addition to July-August for the root crops. Antieni are guarded against predation (particularly against bush pig) in addition to past times burning of the tall grass surrounding the plantation merely after it is planted. This also avoids accidental fires after destroying the crops.
Dawn gardens (obugha): Behind houses inwards 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 hold the goats out, in addition to the soil is often improved past times the add-on of vegetable compost. Vegetables cultivated include aubergine (Solanum sp.), oseille, hot peppers (Capsicum anuum L.), taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott), in addition to sometimes tomatoes (Lycopersicon sp.). Medicinal plants include non-natives such every bit Sansevieria Thunb., njuma-njuma (Ocimum sp.), in addition to Lantana camara L. Banana trees (Musa sp.) are sometimes planted inwards these gardens to commemorate a birth. It is hither that the placenta of the new-born is buried; later, when severely sick, this mortal may take hold a healing ceremony conducted nether his/her tree.
Cultivated fruit trees: Non-native fruit trees are often planted inwards hamlet forests. These trees sometimes dot the quondam homesteads of deceased relatives. The primary tree species planted are mango (Mangifera indica L.), avocado (Persea americana Mill.), crude oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), in addition to 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
ordinarily consumed past times the owner’s household, but sometimes surplus fruit may live sold. Oil palm, 1 of the most of import plants inwards hamlet life, yields many products including oil, fruit, fibre, in addition to fermentable sap. Only a few decades ago, the cutting downwards of an crude 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 in addition to securing the sap without killing the tree. Now, crude oil palms are regularly cutting downwards for making palm wine.
Hunting: Hunting is a passion for the Bateke. Since constituent of this study is related to the savanna hunting tradition, this shape of hunting volition live described inwards item 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 lonely inwards the savanna or woods with guns. These tin can live curt 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 cyberspace (now made of synthetic materials in addition to purchased ready-made) in addition to dogs to hunt porcupine in addition to 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 inwards anything but traps or with guns. However, cyberspace hunting for porcupine continues. Post hunt, long lengths of these nets tin can live found drying inwards the Sun behind houses.
Hunting with dogs is the norm. Formerly dogs would have on ndimbi bells that would assistance hunters inwards distinguishing their dogs inwards the forest. Today, dogs are used to drive game into nets or to run downwards game that has been shot.
Fishing: Fish supplements the creature poly peptide inwards diet throughout the year. While salted in addition to smoked fish are sometimes bought inwards town, fresh fish is regularly caught with a variety of methods. Sometimes a solitary affair, most active line-fishing occurs past times people working inwards groups.
Passive fishing: the capture of fish inwards 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, merely earlier a heavy rain, dams are built across little rivers in addition to 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 in addition to the cage is
submerged inwards H2O to attract fish in addition to 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 inwards little rivers to grab catfish. The lines are checked the next morning.
Nets: Small nets are sometimes installed inwards little rivers. These are inwards places of slow access where the net-owner tin can banking concern 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 can occur inwards rivers or inwards floodplains. When conducted inwards rivers, the river
is dammed off in addition to emptied with buckets to harvest the fish that are left behind. Often these
areas are nigh the manioc processing stands inwards the river, in addition to the walls are left mostly intact.
Thus line-fishing tin can occur easily next manioc processing at the terminate of the day. The wall is
reinstated, in addition to groups of women volition utilisation buckets to empty all the H2O within the barrier. In
the floodplain, during the dry out flavour when the lakes inwards the savannas in addition to floodplains are
starting fourth dimension to dry out up, women volition dam in addition to empty portions of these.
Stream diversion: sometimes men volition brand little ox-bows out of woods streastreams to privatise a
line-fishing spot. Once nigh Saaye, a major river (the Obia) was diverted for a twenty-four lx minutes catamenia past times women to capture fish inwards the drying river-bed.
Pole fishing: This type of line-fishing is done throughout the twelvemonth inwards rivers in addition to lakes.
Noodling: searching submerged holes inwards river banks for catfish. Holes are located in addition to the fisher
inserts ones paw into the hole, blindly immobilising the fish’s fins in addition to stingers, in addition to 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 live searched. Working waist deep inwards the river, women volition uproot all the vegetation inwards a little stretch in addition to 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 inwards one-half in addition to outflow together to do rectangular, loose-weave baskets. The oral fissure is widened with a gyre of liana. Small lakes in addition to portions of oxbow lakes are dammed with aquatic plants in addition to earth.
Then, all vegetation is removed from the interior of the lake. One to 2 smaller njili are installed inwards these dams with their mouths facing inwards towards the line-fishing area. Groups of 2 so trace larger njili betwixt them to dredge the bottom of the lake, stopping regularly to upright the handbasket in addition to take fish, frogs, tadpoles, in addition to trailing vegetation. Every lx minutes or so, the njili inwards the dams are “rushed”, pregnant that a two-some volition drag their large njili towards the terminate basket, forcing some fish to rush into it. The 2 baskets are simultaneously uprighted in addition to the fish removed. The concluding lx 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 in addition to large fish are kept, every bit are frogs in addition to tadpoles. The grab is divided evenly with all fisherwomen. Often fresh fish is prepared chop-chop over a can in addition to eaten merely earlier heading identify that evening.
Social Organisation amid the Teke
This is non a centralized state, in addition to the authorisation of the manful mortal monarch is higher upward all religious. The Teke manful mortal monarch is sacred. He plays an intermediary role betwixt the spirits in addition to the living. He is the guarantee of both fertility in addition to cosmic order. He was aided past times 3 people that made him undergo a serial of enthronement rites over a catamenia 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 in addition to courage of kings. The king’s main duty was to save the prosperity of his kingdom past times carrying out specific rituals.
Each menage unit of measurement came nether the orders of the main of the menage unit of measurement who had absolute life in addition to expiry rights over the menage unit of measurement members. The greater the menage unit of measurement unit, the greater the prestige of the chief, in addition to chiefs would accept on increasing numbers of slaves inwards monastic enjoin to increment this prestige.
The hamlet elected a main in addition to this main was subordinate to the clan main who controlled several villages. The main of the clan possessed a fetish figure called’ manful mortal parent of the earth’, which was a large wooden statue. The lower dorsum of the statue had a band of stuff about it, a slice of metallic was stuck inwards the bellybutton in addition to the eyes were made from 2 fragments of woman parent of pearl. This fetish figure guaranteed the good existence in addition to the fertility of the village’s inhabitants. This figure presided over festivities in addition to rituals. It was the guardian of monastic enjoin in addition to could exclude anybody that behaved badly.
At a religious level, the hamlet main chosen to live the religious main was the most important. He owned a handbasket containing the os remains of ancestors in addition to magical statues.
The Teke often chose the blacksmith every bit the hamlet chief, he was an of import figure in addition to his responsibleness was hereditary. The diviner (Nganga), who was at the same fourth dimension a healer in addition to a witch, was real powerful. He was paid to give personal statues their protecting powers, in addition to to play the role of priest inwards illustration of expiry or illness. His tools were a mirror, several statuettes, a plume duster, in addition to a rattle made from a hollow dry out fruit.
Among the masculine Mungala society, the clan chiefs in addition to the diviners (Nganga) assured the didactics of the futurity initiates.
To do a novel hamlet the diviner uses a magical statuette in addition to 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 inwards some palm vino in addition to so fill upward the hole inwards with white clay. The aim is to give thank y'all the ancestors in addition to to obtain their protection.
Religious Belief
The Teke believed inwards a Supreme Being in addition to 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, in addition to 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 mortal 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 real important. The ancestors alive inwards the sacred forests, nigh rivers, inwards clearings, inwards caves…If the descendants do non award their ancestors they believe that they volition come upward dorsum to torment them, live it with sickness, or mental illness. In monastic enjoin to avoid this, each menage unit of measurement worships its ancestors. This cult materializes itself inwards anthropomorphic statues.
Teke Statues
Teke statues take hold a religious function, but are higher upward all used for their magical qualities. The Teke take hold 2 sorts of statue: the Nkida which do non take hold a magical charge, in addition to the Butti which do.
Teke statues are little inwards size, betwixt 15 in addition to eighty cm. There are by in addition to large parallel lines along the cheeks that correspond tattoos. The forms are squat. The style of the statues is ‘cubist’ with angular forms in addition to a helm shaped coiffure. The trapezoid beard is a sign of authorisation in addition to prestige amid the Teke. The oral fissure has of import ritualistic significance; one-half opened upward but doesn’t reveal 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 in that location are some squatting statues. Teke statues are rarely feminine.
The statue may take hold been made past times the Nganga or the mortal who wants to ain it, maybe the menage unit of measurement chief. It is also possible that a professional person sculptor was charged with both the making in addition to sale of the statue.
Nkida statues correspond an of import mortal that has passed on (a famous hunter, a manful mortal parent or woman parent of a large family, a bang-up cook, a good known warrior, a skillful fisherman, a bang-up 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 inwards a little cavity inwards the statue’s stomach. For a magical statue this mightiness be; vegetable matter, creature or minerals, in addition to if it is a statue of an ancestor, the magical accuse mightiness comprise 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 inwards houses in addition to worshipped. They by in addition to large take hold a beautiful shiny patina due to the large discover of crude oil libations, crimson powder, in addition to fruit in addition to seeds that take hold been chewed in addition to spat out. The condition of the ancestor represented past times the statue is signified past times a metallic necklace.
In monastic enjoin to obtain the services of the magical Butti statue, the firstly twenty-four lx minutes catamenia of the novel or total moon, an ointment made of crimson pulverisation in addition to crude oil are made for the statue. These rites accept identify inwards the morn in addition to 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 constituent of the statue.
Before leaving for a large game hunt, the diviner calls upon the divine forces. Small statues of betwixt 6 in addition to 12 cm are carried on the hunter’s arms to protect the expedition. Similarly to the other statues, their stomachs are covered inwards a poultice made of creature 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 inwards the solid where the fry volition live raised. Part of the placenta is also used to mix inwards with the ingredients for the statue’s magical accuse in addition to volition protect the fry upward until puberty. This statue is placed higher upward 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 discover 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 discover of chickens in addition to fry goats, according to the wealth of the village. The animal’s blood is mixed with certainly magical substances in addition to is introduced into the hollow infinite inwards the statue’s stomach. The statue is so wrapped inwards a slice of stuff which is attached with a slice of string to the cervix in addition to hips. When the statue is finished it is offered to the chief. The ceremony ends inwards a dance.
Teke Masks
The Teke from the North West, notably the Tsaye, used little disc shaped masks inwards the framework of their underground social club called Kidumu. This political in addition to religious social club intervened inwards all the major events inwards the social life of the village, notably: the matrimony of a notary, a chief’s death, circumcision, an alliance, a judgement. The mask wearer danced lonely accompanied past times an orchestra at the terminate of the ceremony.
These circular apartment masks, divided horizontally past times a strip, are decorated with abstract geometric motifs, white, black, blue, crimson or brown. Holes were made about the border inwards monastic enjoin to claw on a costume made of raffia, feathers in addition to fibres which hid the dancer. Two slits allowed the dancer to catch out without existence 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 in addition to metallic necklaces, notably inwards xanthous 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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