Mangbetu people

Mangbetu are an ethnic group in north- eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in the province of Orientale. Their population is about 40,000.

The language of the Mangbetu is the zentralsudanische Mangbetuti.

History

Linguistic evidence suggests that the Mangbetu from the Northeast, possibly from the present-day Sudan, immigrating. On their way south, they encountered Bantu who moved north and settled in the 19th century in their present territory down. They mixed with the previously established there Mbuti and Bantu. In the 19th century a Mangbetu Kingdom was founded, which dominated the region politically until about 1880 slave hunters came to the area and fragmented in the UK led by Muslim sultans Sultanate. The Belgian colonial power supplanted later the slave hunters.

Procuring food and agriculture

Mangbetu live as farmers Hack, from fishing and some hunting. Most important crops are cassava and plantains, besides cattle is operated. The cattle is a symbol of wealth and is often used to pay the bride price. Unlike other Sudanese peoples may at the Mangbetu only men do the work of milking.

Religion

The creator God in the traditional religion of Mangbetu is called Kilima or Noro. In addition, the Mangbetu also believe in other gods, evil spirits and witchcraft. Also the belief in reincarnation is widespread among the people.

Body shaping

As the characteristic jewelry Mangbetu contributed pegs through the ear, according to today's Conch piercing. It pegs of ivory or bone monkeys were used in the perforated ears. Today, this form of body modification is still rarely found in the Mangbetu.

Mangbetu contributed over several generations tower skull. As a cultural Identitätserkmal and signs of tribal affiliation, a cranial deformation was in the infants, especially among higher-ranking tribal families, performed by tying together with braided vines. According to the idea Mangbetu itself should thus also improve thinking skills and ability to learn. However, in the 1950s, the tradition began with increasing contact with Western culture to slowly disappear.