LES KONGO NORD-OCCIDENTAUX

Abstract

The work presents a comprehensive study of the Northwestern Kongo people, an ethnic group residing in the region bordering French, Belgian, and Portuguese Congo. It aims to synthesize existing knowledge and new research into a concise summary of their society. The study systematically addresses key anthropological themes, including the group's tribal and sub-tribal classifications, nomenclature, demographic distribution, and geographical location.

A significant portion of the analysis is dedicated to untangling the complex and often contradictory nomenclature and classification of the various Kongo tribes (such as the Vili, Sundi, Yombe, and Laadi), highlighting the challenges posed by divergent naming conventions used by administrators, linguists, and neighboring groups.