Nkutu / Kutshu

Nkutu / Kutshu

The Kutshu or Nkutu (Akutshu, Bakoutou, Bakutsu, Bakutu, Bankusu, Bankutshu, Bankutu, Kutchu, Nkutu, Wankutshu) nation live in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

They numbers about 192,000 (Peoplegroups.org, 2024)

Nkutu People

The Kutshu, who must be distinguished from the Bakutu group of the Mongo, the Wanjutshu group of the Batetela, the Bakusu, and the Bakutu or Bakutshu division of the Gombe along with the Ekonda, belong to the Southern division of the Mongo nation.

They are closely related linguistically and culturally, as well as in the minds of the people, to the Mongo proper (constituting the Northern division) and to the Bosaka, Kundu and Mbole, (constituting the Central division). The Dengeso and Yaelima are often improperly distinguished as major divisions.

 

Language

Nkutu (Nkuchu, Kitkutshu) is a Bantu language of northern Kasai-Oriental Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a member of the Tetela group of Bantu languages.

 

Classification of Nkutu nations

A) Bakutshu (Baseka Longomo)

  1. Bolendu tribe. Subtribes: Yasa, Boyera, Beshombo (with the Ngangi or Gangi), Nkaka, and Bolinga.
  2. Bolongo. Subtribes: Bundja, Ekombo, Loola, and Bayaya.
  3. Yaelima tribe. Subtribes: Ipanga, Eanza, Elome, Bombole (including the Booli or Bori), Etwali, Ediki, and probably also the Isolu.

B) Boshongo (Bolongo, Baseka Lutuka, Songo)

  1. Bakongo -- emigrants who went south and founded the Kuba kingdom and who therefore are not to be included properly with the Kutshu nation.
  2. Dengese (Bonkesse, Dckese, Denkese, Ndengese)• Including the Gei Djale, Waku, Ikongolo, Djmbungu, Gele, and Itende.
  3. Ekolombe.
  4. Etsiki (Tchiki).

 

Basic Economy

Primarily agricultural. Manioc is the staple, followed by bananas. Other crops include maize, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and yams. Hunting is very well developed, but there is little fishing. Cattle are absent, but there are a few chickens, goats, and hunting dogs. Eggs are not eaten.

 

General info (from old surces of 1964)

Sex Division of Labor. Men hunt and clear land, but women do most of the agri­cultural work.

Family. No specific data are available but the patrilocal extended family is normal among the Mongo nations.

Settlement Pattern. Concentrated villages (or possibly hamlets), with the huts arranged along both sides of a single village street.

Local Government. There are village headmen. Among the Boshongo the headman is the chief of the original resident clan, and he is assisted by a council of the heads of extended families. Unlike the Kutshu proper and most Mongo tribes, the Boshongo (like the Basongo-Meno) have an aristocracy of wealth with various gradations.

State. Paramount chiefs are universal. In most Kutshu groups they rule over subtribes, but the Bolongo and Bolendu tribes have tribal chiefs. The Boshongo formerly were integrated under a powerful paramount chief for the entire nation, and he, in turn, was assisted by a council of lesser chiefs; the rule of succession was either matrilineal or had strong survivalistic matrilineal features.

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