|
Tribe Snapshots Bembe |
| Location: |
Southeastern Congo (Zaire) |
| Population: |
70,000 |
| Language: |
Ebembe or Kibembe (Bantu) |
| Neighboring
Peoples: |
Boyo, Lega |
| Types of Art: |
The Bembe carve numerous kinds of wooden figures
that represent various spirits. They also carve
several different kinds of masks, the most notable
being antelope horn masks (elande). Knives, staffs,
fly whisks, and divination gourds are also often
decorated. |
| History: |
The Bembe originate from the northwest forests
of Congo (Zaire). They are representative of numerous
ethnic traditions including Lega, pre-Lega, Boyo-Kunda,
and Bemba. They are a tough and proud people who
absorbed other populations and their systems of
thought in the process of carving out their current
homeland in a time of widespread conflict and
under economic pressure from European invaders
and slave traders during the 19th century. Their
desire for more land continues to result in conflict
in the area today. |
| Economy: |
The Bembe rely heavily on farming, which is
done mostly by women. Rice, maize, groundnuts,
beans, and bananas are the staple crops. Goats,
sheep, pigs, and chicken are raised for meat.
The men are responsible for supplementing this
diet through hunting, to which they attach great
ritual importance. Occasionally, the Bembe lease
out some of their land to neighbors for grazing,
and recently they have begun to prospect for alluvial
gold and tin, which they can sell. |
| Political Systems: |
Although there is no centralized local authority
in Bembeland, government is run quite effectively
through a large number of patrilineal clans. The
bwami society, which is made up of the influential
men in the community, is responsible for making
the political, economic, and judicial decisions
which affect the community. |
| Religion: |
Religion is based on individual and lineage
ancestor cults. The Bembe have also absorbed many
of the religious ideas of their neighbors. They
honor nature spirits (bahomba), the earth spirit
(m'ma), and the spirit of Lake Tanganyika, Mkangualukulu,
among others. |
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