Niger-Congo Peoples
The largest language family of sub-Saharan Africa: Bantu, Kwa, Mande, Gur and more, spanning West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa.
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Bantu →92 groups
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.
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.
Kwa25 groups
Abbé
The Agboville area along the Agnéby River in the Agnéby-Tiassa region, north of Abidjan, southeastern Côte d'Ivoire
Abidji
Sikensi Department and surrounding villages such as Gomon, in the Agnéby-Tiassa Region northwest of Abidjan, southern Côte d'Ivoire.
Ahanta
The southwestern coast of Ghana, in the Western Region, from Sekondi-Takoradi west toward the Ankobra River, including Busua, Dixcove, Butre, Princes Town and Cape Three Points.
Animere
Kecheibi and Kunda villages in the Oti Region (formerly part of the Volta Region), eastern Ghana, near the border with Togo
Avikam
Grand-Lahou and the surrounding lagoon villages at the mouth of the Bandama River, Grands-Ponts region, southern Côte d'Ivoire.
Chakosi
Northern Togo around Sansanné-Mango (Oti prefecture) and northeastern Ghana around Chereponi, with smaller communities in northern Benin.
Chumburu
Both shores of the northern arm of Lake Volta in central Ghana: the Kpandai area (Northern Region), Krachi West (Oti Region) and the Yeji area (Bono East).
Ebrié
Shores of the Ébrié Lagoon in southeastern Côte d'Ivoire, including much of greater Abidjan and the Bingerville area
Efutu
Winneba (Simpa) and nearby coastal areas of Ghana's Central Region, with the related Awutu and Senya communities to the east
Kyode
Nkwanta area of the Oti Region (formerly the northern Volta Region), eastern Ghana, near the Togo border
Mbato
Villages east of Abidjan around Bingerville and the Potou Lagoon, southeastern Côte d'Ivoire
Tabom
James Town and nearby neighborhoods of central Accra, Ghana; ancestral ties to Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, and to the Yoruba country of present-day Nigeria and Benin
Gur18 groups
Kassena
Upper East Region of northern Ghana, around Navrongo and Paga, and Nahouri Province in southern Burkina Faso, around Pô and Tiébélé.
Koma
A small cluster of farming villages in the savanna of northern Ghana, including Yikpabongo
Kusasi
The Upper East Region of northeastern Ghana, centered on Bawku, with communities over the borders in Burkina Faso and Togo.
Losso
Doufelgou prefecture around Niamtougou, Kara Region, northern Togo; migrant communities in central and southern Togo and in Ghana
Nabdam
Nabdam District and nearby areas east of Bolgatanga, centered on Nangodi, in the Upper East Region of northeastern Ghana
Nanumba
Nanung traditional area in the southeastern Northern Region of Ghana, centered on Bimbilla and Wulensi
Atlantic15 groups
Lebou
The Cap Vert peninsula and the neighboring coast of Senegal, centered on Dakar, its old village districts and Rufisque.
Mankanya
Cacheu Region of northwestern Guinea-Bissau, centered on Bula; migrant communities in the Casamance region of Senegal (especially Ziguinchor), Dakar and the Gambia
Mande10 groups
Edoid6 groups
Cross River6 groups
Volta-Niger6 groups
Dibo
Niger State in north-central Nigeria, chiefly the country around Lapai between Minna and the Niger River
Egba
Egbaland in Ogun State, southwestern Nigeria, centered on Abeokuta, with large communities in Lagos and abroad.
Ikwo
Ikwo Local Government Area, southeast of Abakaliki in Ebonyi State, southeastern Nigeria.
Izzi
Ebonyi State, southeastern Nigeria, centered on Abakaliki and the Izzi, Abakaliki and Ebonyi local government areas.
Ubangian4 groups
Kru4 groups
Adamawa4 groups
Benue-Congo3 groups
Plateau3 groups
Other Niger-Congo groups38 groups
Akoko
The Akoko hill country of northern Ondo State, Nigeria, across the four Akoko local government areas; the name extends into Akoko-Edo in neighboring Edo State
Akurmi
Kaduna State, north-central Nigeria, centered on the Lere area near the northern edge of the Jos Plateau
Bamun
The Noun department of Cameroon's West Region, centered on the royal town of Foumban, with sizable communities in Douala and Yaoundé
Boki
Boki Local Government Area and nearby parts of northern Cross River State, Nigeria, with smaller communities across the border in Cameroon
Ibarapa
The Ibarapa towns of western Oyo State, Nigeria, including Igbo-Ora, Eruwa, Lanlate, Idere, Igangan, Tapa and Ayete
Igbo Jews
Igboland in southeastern Nigeria (Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi states), with congregations in Abuja and other Nigerian cities and a small diaspora
Kulango
Northeastern Côte d'Ivoire around Bouna and Bondoukou, including the Comoé National Park area, and neighboring western Ghana
Landuma
Boké Region of northwestern Guinea, in the uplands along the Rio Nunez around the town of Boké
Mgbo
Northern Ebonyi State, southeastern Nigeria, in and around Ohaukwu Local Government Area north of Abakaliki.
Nafana
Banda area of Ghana's Bono Region, near the Black Volta, and the Bondoukou district of eastern Côte d'Ivoire.
Samo
Northwestern Burkina Faso, mainly Sourou and Nayala provinces around Tougan and Toma, with smaller communities across the border in Mali.
Tetela
Sankuru province and adjacent parts of the central Congo basin, Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a large community in Kinshasa.
Tongwe
Eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika around the Mahale Mountains, in Kigoma and Katavi regions of western Tanzania
Ukwuani
Ukwuani, Ndokwa West and Ndokwa East local government areas of Delta State, Nigeria, west of the lower Niger River
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