|
Tribe Snapshots Suku |
| Location: |
Southwestern Congo
(Zaire) |
| Population: |
80,000 |
| Language: |
Kiyaka (northwestern Bantu) |
| Neighboring Peoples: |
Yaka, Teke,
Nkanu |
| Types of Art: |
Various wooden sculptures are made, extending
from religious and magical figures to everyday
status items, such as elegantly carved cups and
hair combs. The Suku, like their neighbors the
Yaka, also create complicated masks, which are
used by the initiation societies. |
| History: |
Oral history suggests that the Suku, along with
the Yaka, were part of an invasion against the
Kongo Kingdom that came from the Lunda Plateau
in the 16th century. Previous to that time Suku
culture was enveloped in Kongo language and agriculture.
Lunda expansion and creation of the Inbangala
Kingdom in 1620 greatly affected the occupants
of the Kwango River area, which included both
the Yaka and the Suku. At one time the Suku were
subsumed by the larger Yaka kingdom. In an effort
to expand to the northwest and east, Yaka chiefs
weakened their kingdom's strength and were forced
to become subservient to the Lunda. The Lunda-Chokwe
empire collapsed in the 19th century allowing
both the Suku and the Yaka to regain some of their
independence. |
| Economy: |
Cultivation of yams, manioc, and groundnuts
is done primarily by women. This is supplemented
by the men hunting with dogs in the surrounding
forest and by the women gathering wild berries,
nuts, and roots. Occasional fishing in the Kwango
River also provides some food. Although hunting
rarely provides substantial quantities of meat
to the Suku diet, it is considered an important
part of male culture. Palm tree plantations provide
the Suku with palm oil, an important commodity
for local and international trade. |
| Political Systems: |
The Suku follow matrilineal descent patterns,
which serve as individual lineages with members
recognizing a geneological depth of three or four
generations. Each community has a local chief
who is the direct descendant of the original land
owner and usually is controlled to some extent
by a paramount regional chief. The Zairian government
officially governs each region in conjunction
with the local chiefs, controlling the extent
of the power of those individual chiefs. Ritual
specialists and diviners who achieve their prominence
through display of their individual healing powers
also inform political decisions. |
| Religion: |
The creator who inhabits the sky (ndzambyaphuungu)
is responsible for life, death, and all unanswerable
questions. There are no religious practices that
actively pay homage to this god. Instead, religious
celebrations focus on honoring the elders and
ancestors (bambuta). The death of an elder is
cause for a public ceremony performed by other
elders. Bambuta may be honored by recognizing
and practicing the traditional ways and through
offerings and gifts. The offering place is usually
a clearing in the forest (yipheesolu). This place
is off-limits to outsiders and all women. Offerings
may otherwise be made at the grave site of the
ancestors. |
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