Benga people facts for kids
.jpg)
Benga women during the traditional festival Djombe in Corisco Island.
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 8,200 (Equatorial Guinea: 6,800; Gabon: 1,800) | |
| Languages | |
| Spanish, French, Benga language | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity ~90% (Predominantly Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.), Traditional Religion (unspecified) ~10%. | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Bubi, Fang, other Bantu ethnic groups. |
The Benga people are an African group of people. They are part of the larger Bantu peoples family. The Benga originally come from Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Their native language is called Benga.
They are also known as Ndowe or Playeros, which means "Beach People." This name comes from them living along the coast. The Benga live in a small part of the coast near Cabo de San Juan. They also live in towns like Mbini and Bata. You can also find them on the islands of Corisco, Elobey Grande, and Elobey Chico.
Benga History
The Benga people are one of 14 Ndowe tribes in Equatorial Guinea. For a long time, they were known as skilled fishermen, sailors, and traders. It is believed they first lived inland in Equatorial Guinea. They later moved to the coast to trade more easily with European visitors.
By the 1770s, the Benga were living on Corisco Island. This island had been empty before they arrived. Historically, the Benga people, like many groups worldwide at the time, were involved in trading with other communities. This included the practice of slavery. They traded with European powers. In the mid-1800s, Britain made the slave trade illegal. The British military then worked to stop the movement of enslaved people. This helped to end the slave trade in the region.
_(1895)_(14781138914).jpg)
Around 1857, missionaries from America started setting up missions on Corisco Island. However, most of them left by 1943 because of the Second World War. After the war, many Benga people also left the island. They were looking for better opportunities elsewhere.
Famous Benga People
- Samuel L. Jackson - This well-known American actor has ancestors from the Benga people.
See also
In Spanish: Pueblo benga para niños
