Badinga

Badinga

The Badinga are an ethnic group located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

This group includes:

Two sources say all are of common origin.

 

Basic Economy

Primarily agricultural, with brand tillage. Manioc is the staple crop, followed by bananas and maize, A fair quantity of peanuts and sweet potatoes is raised; but no rice. One source mentions millet. Chickens are common, and goats (not milked), dogs, cats, and pigeons are kept. There are believed to be no cattle, sheep, or pig§ although one source says pigs are common. Hunting is very important, fishing less. Larvae, ants, wild fruits, honey, and palm nuts (important for trade) are collected.

 

Sex Divisicm of Labor

Men hunt, tend animals, and clear land. Women do all other agricultural work and fish (though men may use harpoons, perhaps for large river animals)

 

Property

Native money consists of shells; metal bars are also used. Land is owned by clans. Individuals have usufruct to plots that they clear for agriculture. Inheritance is matrilineal — by mother's brother, then younger brother.

 

Social Stratification

Slaves, who are not numerous, are acquired in war, by purchase, or through settlement of debt. Unlike freemen, slaves have no independent sib membership but observe the totemic taboos of their masters. Children of a slave father and free mother are free.

 

Family

The normal family is assumed to be polygynous, but there may be an extended family organization.

 

Settlement Pattern

Villages are moved every 5 or 6 years. They are composed of about 50 dwellings arranged on both sides of a street and about 5 yards apart. They are not palisaded. The huts are rectangular and among the Lori (but not the Badinga), are elevated on piles. Both Badinga and Ngoli houses have open front ends, three walls of horizontally laid palm ribs (a sort of lattice), and gabled roofs thatched with palm.

 

Community Organization

The village is possibly an avunculocal clan-community, possibly segmented into clan-barios, possibly neither. Data are not specific.

 

Local Government

Each village has a headman, succeeded by a sister's son. "Hamlet chiefs," who may be heads of clan-f>arriosy are mentioned by some sources.

 

State

The Dzing have a single paramount chief, who rules over local chiefs, who in turn rule over hamlet chiefs. Local chiefs presumably are the headmen of villages.

 

Sources: