|
Tribe Snapshots Beembe |
| Location: |
Southern Congo |
| Population: |
80,000 |
| Language: |
Kibeembe (Bantu) |
| Neighboring
Peoples: |
Bwende, Teke, Yaka |
| Types
of Art: |
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| History: |
The Beembe live north of the Zaire River in
the Congo (Brazzaville) on a plateau that rises
above the Niari River. The Beembe have been closely
linked to the Kingdom of the Kongo since at least
the 15th century. Although there are numerous
theories about their origin, it seems very possible
that they arrived in the region in two separate
migrations: some had lived in the region since
before 1485, while others split from the Kongo
at the time of a battle with the Portuguese in
1665. Their neighbors to the north are the Teke,
who were the original inhabitants of the Dondo
Plateau. The Beembe are matrilineal and polygamous. |
| Economy: |
The Beembe are fishermen, and also farm, raising
peanuts, manioc, and sweet potatoes. Men do most
of the hunting and fishing, and women do most
of the farming. Hunting and gathering continue
to add significantly to their diet. Fishing is
carried out with nets, baskets, and poison, and
hunting with firearms, dogs, and nets string through
the forest. |
| Political
Systems: |
The family is the most basic unit, with several
families grouped into clans (mvila). The only
system of political authority is the elected religious
chief, mfumu mpu, who is responsible for honoring
the spirits of the ancestors and controls the
family nature spirits nkisi. As he exercises political
power, he is advised by a council of lineage elders
(bambuta). |
| Religion: |
The Beembe honor both the spirits of their ancestors
and nature spirits. Power figures are carved to
embody nkisi, or spirits that fight witchcraft.
The relics of important ancestors are kept in
small, carved figures or are wrapped in cloth.
There are healing cults called Mpodi, Ngombo,
and Nkondi. |
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