Abbe people

Bangelima

Bangelima / Babeo / Mongelima / Ngelima

The Bangelima of Democratic Republic of the Congo (Babeo, Mongelima, Ngelima) are a Bantu tribe closely akin to the Ababua, Babali and Bati. They embrace five subtribes: Baboro or Baburu, Bangba, Bobua, Mobalima, and Bangelima (on the banks of the Aruwimi).

 

Basic Economy

Primarily agricultural. Manioc and bananas are the staple crops. Maize, peanuts, and pumpkins also are grown, but no rice. Goats, dogs, and chickens aré raised but are rarely eaten. There is a considerable amount of fishing on the rivers and of hunting inland. The river villages trade fish for game with the inland villages.

 

Sex Division of Labor

Men clear the fields.and prepare the ground for the first planting, but women do all other agricultural work. Both sexes fish — women for small fry, men for larger fish.

 

Property

The products of land are property, but not land itself, which is held in family plots. There are slaves. Iron imple­ments and brass bracelets (of European origin) are used in exchange. There are no markets.

 

Settlement Pattern

Villages on the river are large, containing 200 to 500 houses. These are arranged in two parallel rows along the village street, with the house of the village chief in the center. Houses are round with very high conical roofs thatched with leaves laid like tiles.

 

Community Organization

Villages have about 5 subdivisions. No other data are available on community segmentation. Circumcision is practiced.

 

Local Government

Each village and its subdivisions has a chief.

 

State

Villages are politically autonomous.

 

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