Location: Zaire, Africa The Mongo are one of the four largest tribes along with Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) that makes up 45% of the Zaire population. There are over 200 cultures that make up Africa.
Language: They speak dialects of common language, such as the Niger-Congo language or the Benue-Congo language.
Daily Life: The Mongo eat cassavas, a root crop similar to the potato, they are eaten by more than 300 million poor people in Africa alone. Cassavas along with bananas, wild-plant gathering, fishing, hunting, are the main source of food for the Mongo tribe.
The religion of the Mongo’s is very significant. Most of the emphasis is based on ancestor worship and beliefs in nature spirits responsible for fertility, magic, sorcery, and witchcraft. Witchcraft and divination play an important role in the culture.
Family is also a significant part of the culture. The eldest member of the family usually holds the authority this is derived partly from religious sources. Communities are organized around lineages, feuds and covenants between lineages. Marriage payments were a means of solving issues that arose between lineage.
Oral art work is what made the Mongo’s culture so great. Through ritual song and dance their rich artistic ability is vividly displayed. Drum-talking also played a special role in the art making and religious ceremonies.
Sources:
“Encyclopedia Britannica.” Mongo (1999-2000) http://www.britannica.com/seo/m/mongo/ 27 Feb. 2001
“About.” African Cultures (25 May 1999) http://goafrica.about.com/?once=true& 27 Feb. 2001
By Elizabeth Vaith