Bantu Peoples
The Bantu expansion peoples of Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, one migration family from Cameroon to the Cape.
Help us get this right
Does this portrait look right for Bakossi?
Nobody has judged this one yet. You would be the first.
Bafia
Mbam-et-Inoubou department, Centre Region, Cameroon, around the town of Bafia in the Mbam river country north of Yaoundé
Bajuni
The Bajuni Islands and adjacent mainland of southern Somalia, from Kismayo south to the Kenyan border, and the northern Kenyan coast around the Lamu archipelago and Mombasa
Bakweri
Slopes of Mount Cameroon and the nearby coast in Fako Division, Southwest Region, Cameroon, around Buea, Limbe and Tiko
Banyamulenge
The high plateaus of South Kivu, in Uvira, Fizi and Mwenga territories, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, with large refugee and displaced communities in Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya and further abroad.
Basa
Littoral and Centre regions of Cameroon, between the Sanaga and Nyong rivers, around Edéa, Eséka and the eastern approaches to Douala.
Batanga
Atlantic coast of southern Cameroon around Kribi (Océan department, South Region), from Londji to Campo; related communities on the coast of Equatorial Guinea and northern Gabon.
Doe
Bagamoyo District, Pwani (Coast) Region, in the coastal hinterland north and inland of Bagamoyo toward the lower Wami River, Tanzania
Giriama
Coastal hinterland of Kenya, chiefly Kilifi County between Mombasa and Malindi, with many also living in Mombasa and other coastal towns
Great Lakes Twa
Mountain forests and hill country of the Albertine Rift around lakes Kivu and Edward: Rwanda, Burundi, southwestern Uganda and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
Gwere
Bugwere, in eastern Uganda: mainly Budaka, Kibuku and Pallisa districts, west of Mount Elgon and southeast of Lake Kyoga.
Gyele
Coastal rainforest of southern Cameroon (Océan department, South Region), around Kribi, Lolodorf, Bipindi, Akom II and Campo, with a small community in mainland Equatorial Guinea
Hemba
East of the Lualaba River in southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, mainly Tanganyika Province (formerly northern Katanga), around Kongolo
Ikizu
Hills and plains of Bunda District, Mara Region, northern Tanzania, between the eastern shore of Lake Victoria and the western Serengeti, centered on Chamuriho mountain.
Jita
Southeastern shore of Lake Victoria in Mara Region, Tanzania, chiefly Musoma Rural District around the Majita area, with some communities in neighboring Mwanza Region
Kunyi
The Niari valley of the southwestern Republic of the Congo, mainly in the Niari and Bouenza departments.
Kwasio
Southwestern Cameroon (Océan division of the South Region: Kribi, Lolodorf, Bipindi) and the coast of Río Muni in Equatorial Guinea.
Kwaya
Eastern shore of Lake Victoria in Mara Region, northern Tanzania, mainly in Musoma Rural District around Musoma town.
Lengue
Atlantic coast of Río Muni south of Bata, Litoral province, mainland Equatorial Guinea, toward the Gabon border
Lobedu
Bolobedu, around Modjadjiskloof and Kgapane in Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Maka
Upper Nyong (Haut-Nyong) division of Cameroon's East Region, around Abong-Mbang, Doumé and Nguélémendouka, with some villages in the Centre Region
Mapulana
Mapulaneng, the Bushbuckridge area of Mpumalanga, South Africa, between the Drakensberg escarpment and Kruger National Park
Mbosi
The Cuvette and surrounding departments of northern Republic of the Congo, along the Alima, Kouyou and Likouala-Mossaka rivers, centered on Owando, Boundji, Makoua, Oyo and Mossaka, with a large community in Brazzaville.
Mpondo
Pondoland, on South Africa's Eastern Cape coast between the Mthatha and Mtamvuna rivers, around Lusikisiki, Mbizana, Flagstaff and Port St Johns; large migrant communities in Durban and Gauteng
Mwanga
Northeastern Zambia, chiefly Nakonde and Isoka districts in Muchinga Province, and the adjoining Tunduma and Momba area of Songwe Region in southwestern Tanzania
Ndwandwe
The country between the Black Mfolozi and Pongola rivers in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, reaching toward the Eswatini border; descendant communities in Mozambique, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania.
Ngando
Equatorial rainforest of Tshuapa Province (formerly part of Équateur), Democratic Republic of the Congo, around Djolu between the Lopori and Maringa rivers
Ngumba
Southern Cameroon, mainly the Océan department of the South Region around Lolodorf and Bipindi, inland from Kribi
Nzime
Rainforest of the Haut-Nyong department in Cameroon's East Region, around Lomié and Messamena, near the Dja Faunal Reserve
Okandé
Middle Ogooué River valley in central Gabon, between Ndjolé and Booué and centered on Lopé (Ogooué-Ivindo and Moyen-Ogooué provinces).
Oroko
Ndian and Meme divisions of the Southwest Region, Cameroon, from the Rio del Rey creeks through the Rumpi Hills toward Kumba
Pogoro
Mahenge plateau and surrounding Ulanga District, south of the Kilombero River in Morogoro Region, southern Tanzania
Shirazi
Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba), the Comoros, and the coastal strip of Tanzania, Kenya and northern Mozambique.
Suku
Savanna country east of the Kwango River in Kwango Province, southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo, centered on the Feshi area.
Tetela
Sankuru province and adjacent parts of the central Congo basin, Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a large community in Kinshasa.
Tsaangi
Chaillu Massif on the border of Gabon and the Republic of the Congo: Ngounié, Ogooué-Lolo and Haut-Ogooué provinces in Gabon; the Niari forest around Mossendjo and Mayoko in Congo.
Zaramo
The coastal plain of eastern Tanzania, in and around Dar es Salaam and the Pwani Region.
More language families: Niger-Congo · Indo-European · Austronesian · Sino-Tibetan · All families →