Teke people

The Batéké (also Baréké, Teke, " Batio " Tio or Tyo ) form a native on the west coast of central Africa ethnicity.

Settlement area

The Bateke belong to the Bantu. They live mainly in Gabon and the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Estimated number in 2000:

• Gabon: 54,000 (4% of the population)
• Republic of Congo, 508,000 (18%)
• Democratic Republic of Congo 267,000 (< 1%)

Language

They speak different dialects of the Teke, these include the standard - Teke, Ngungwel, Tchitchege, Teke - Eboo, Teke - Fuumu, Teke - Kukuya, Teke - Laali, Teke - Nzikou, Teke - Tege, Teke - Tsaayi, Teke - Tyee and Yaka.

History

By the Portuguese expeditions they came into contact with Europeans in the 16th century. Between the 16th and 18th century, the former kingdom of Bateke was involved in the slave trade between Africa and the European colonies in America.

After 1880, they fell by the officer and explorer Pierre de Brazza Savorgnan under the dominion of France, as their king with the title Makoko completed a protectorate treaty.

Omar Bongo, President of the Republic of Gabon from 1967 to 2009, belonged to the Bateke.