Balanta people
Balanta, especially in French -speaking countries also Balante, are an ethnic group with an eponymous Atlantic Language in West Africa in the countries of Senegal, Gambia and Guinea- Bissau. In Guinea Bissau, the Balanta are the largest ethnic group with a good quarter of the population.
The total number of Balanta is estimated at 442,000, of which in Guinea-Bissau to 420,000.
History
Archaeologists believe that the Balanta between the 10th and 14th century migrated in small groups in today's Guinea- Bissau. During the 19th century they were spread over the whole of Guinea- Bissau and Senegal to the south to avoid the spread of the Kingdom of Kaabu. The oral tradition of the Balanta itself says, they were drawn westward from the region of present-day Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, in order to avoid local conflicts. Today, the Balanta settle mainly south of the river Geba and in the center of Guinea-Bissau.
Culture
The Balanta do without chief or recognized leaders. All major decisions are made among the Balanta by a Council of Elders. To be accepted as a member of the community to which to Include an initiation ceremony must face. Overall, prevails among the Balanta equality. As a result, the Portuguese colonialists had trouble with them. At the turn of the 19th to 20th century Portugal launched several pacification campaigns against insurgent Balanta and subjected them appointed chief of the Fulani. The Portuguese repression due to Balanta were recruited in large numbers as soldiers by the PAIGC in the struggle for independence in the 1960s and 1970s. After independence, however, nationalists took over the power and the Balanta set up with their difficulty, village committees and other administrative structures because of their decentralized social organization, ones on the outside. Many Balanta resented their exclusion from the government. In the 1980s, it came out of the army to several coup attempts.
Language
Balanta is a language for branch Bak associated North Atlantic language. Your speakers are mostly illiterate and help yourself in dealing with members of other ethnic groups of the usual in Guinea-Bissau Creole Portuguese.
Religion
The Balanta are generally animists. Otherwise Islam predominates over Christian denominations. Djon Cago is the name of one of the deities. Balanta believe that the gods are very far away. The faithful they are trying to achieve through necromancy and sacrifice.