Ngbandi people
Ethnic group in Central Africa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ngbandi are an ethnic group from the region of the upper Ubangi River, located in the northern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and southern Central African Republic. They traditionally speak the Ngbandi language, which is part of the Ubangian language family.
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
 Democratic Republic of the Congo Central African Republic | |
| Languages | |
| Ngbandi, Sango, Lingala, French | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity |
Culture
Historically the Ngbandi were subsistence farmers, and many still grow maize, manioc, and other food crops. Until recently, some of their subsistence depended on traditional hunting and gathering.[citation needed]
The Ngbandi were once known as warriors, and some of the most prized African knives and lances were made by their craftsmen. This culture and others of Sudan had close connections, as expressed by shared usage of a musical instrument, a kind of harp, whose form is distinctive to this area.[1] Traditionally, they consider twins to be ayafo te angbo (lit. 'children of snakes').[2]
Notable people
- Mobutu Sese Seko – president and dictator of Zaire