The Budja live in the forests of the western Democratic Republic of Congo.
Population is estimated around 647,000
The Budja (Babudza, Budjia, Mbudja), with whom are grouped the kindred Bango (Babangt, Mobango, Mobongo), Maginza (western Budja), and (Bale, Mabale, Mobale, Mabali, Mbali, Mobali), are a Bantu tribe that is linguistically akin to the Mabinza according to one source. Another source includes them with the Doko, Gombe, and the Mabinza, and probably also with the Bombesa, in his Great Ngombe ethnic group. Maps of two other sources in 1953 included in eastern Budja country the Apakibet, Dingbe, Mange, Mondumba, Ngenza, and Wele.
The Budja people make their homes, planting small gardens with staples of yams and plantain to supplement their diet of abundant fish.
The Budja Live in villages consisting of a double row of houses along a village street; the dwellings are rectangular, with walls of bark or planks and with gabled roofs thatched with grass. The Mobale live in unpalisaded villages, usually consisting of a single street along a riverbank; the huts are rectangular, usually raised on piles, with bark walls and gabled roofs covered with palm leaves.
Primarily agricultural, with bananas, maize, and manioc the staple crops. Goats, dogs (eaten), chickens, cats, and a very few sheep are kept. Fishing is important, and the Mobale subsist primarily as riverain fishermen, trading fish with the Budja for agricultural products.
Although local roads are sparse and largely impassable, the Congo River provides transport to markets.
Some men travel by river to urban areas in search of more lucrative employment.
Underlying other religious professions, traditional beliefs assume that both good and bad events have spiritual causes addressed through appropriate prayers, sacrifices or ceremonial rituals.
As a matrilineal culture, Budja inheritance passes through the mother, and the matriarch is considered head of the family or clan. Traditional chiefs also play an important and highly respected role in Budja communities.
Budja families construct their homes of local materials and usually roof them with leaves or woven palm shingles. Besides fishing and gardening, to supplement both their diet and their income they gather forest products: wild game, snails, caterpillars, firewood, rattan vines, palm wine, palm nuts and palm oil.
"Les Budja proviennent de la région de l’Uele où ils vivaient avec les Bagenza, les Mobango et les groupes apparentés...
Les Budja et les groupes apparentés sont facilement identifiés par leurs villages, qui portent les noms des fondateurs précédés de Ya, par exemple Ya-Ligimba (Yaligimba), Ya-Molanga (Yamolanga), Ya-Ndombo (Yandombo), Ya-Mongili (Yamongili)."
Local Government. The "chef de clan" (kumu esungu) is assisted by "chefs des groupes de families" (kumu gbondo), and often by a war chief (lombe), in rendering justice.
Sources:
(20 Mb)