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Other Names for African Tribes
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| A tribal approach to African culture provides the most convenient way of understanding aspects as diverse as history, religion, art, agriculture, economy and dress. Africa has many tribes (more than a hundred in Zaire alone), and while, in some cases, the differences between tribes are enormous, in other cases they are quite minor or very subtle. Geographically close tribes influence one another in many ways. In masks these principles of similarity and difference also apply. At times it is impossible to tell from which of two neighbouring tribes a mask originates, at others the masks from neighbouring tribes may differ in almost every respect. |
| The tribal names below link to descriptions of the tribes and aspects of their culture with particular emphasis on their mask-making. A list (and thumbnails) of some of the masks made by the tribes follows, and from there you can link to large images and descriptions of the masks. |
| Some tribes are known by more than one name. We have tried to use the most well-known name as the main name in the list below, and have included alternate names in the column headed <Use this name>. We have tried to be comprehensive in the list below, however, we have been unable to include all the minor variations in spelling. |
| If a tribe is not generally involved in mask-making, we have excluded them from the list. |
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Tribe Name
look in this column for the name
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Use this name
(click for description of the tribe or for mask illustrations)
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Shown on map
(click to see map)
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| Abua |
Abua |
YES
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| Ashanti |
Ashanti |
YES
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| Babembe |
Babembe |
YES
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| Babinje |
Babinje |
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| Bachoko |
Bachokwe |
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| Bachokwe |
Bachokwe |
YES
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| Baga |
Baga |
YES
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| Bajokwe |
Bachokwe |
YES
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| Bakongo |
Bakongo |
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| Bakota |
Bakota |
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| Bakuba |
Bakuba (a kingdom, not a tribe)
See tribes in the Bakuba kingdom: Bushoong, Ngeende |
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| Balega |
Balega |
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| Baluba |
Baluba |
YES
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| Balumbo |
Balumbo |
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| Bambala |
Bambala |
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| Bambara |
Bambara |
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| Bambole |
Bambole |
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| Bamileke |
Bamileke |
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| Bamum |
Bamum |
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| Bapende |
Bapende |
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| Baoule |
Baoule |
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| Bariba |
Bariba |
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| Bashokwe |
Bachokwe |
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| Basonge |
Basonge |
YES
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| Basongye |
Basonge |
YES
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| Batabwa |
Batabwa |
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| Bateke |
Bateke |
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| Batetela |
Batetela |
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| Batchokwe |
Bachokwe |
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| Batshioko |
Bachokwe |
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| Baule |
Baoule |
YES
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| Bawongo |
Bawongo |
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| Bembe |
Babembe |
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| Bena Kanioka |
Bena Kanioka |
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| Bena Lulua |
Bena Lulua |
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| Benin |
Benin |
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| Bikom |
Bikom |
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| Bini |
Bini |
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| Bushoong |
Bushoong |
YES
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| Chamba |
Chamba |
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| Chokwe |
Bachokwe |
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| Dan |
Dan |
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| Dogon |
Dogon |
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| Ekoi |
Ekoi |
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| Esie |
Esie |
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| Fang |
Fang |
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| Fanti |
Fanti |
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| Fon |
Fon |
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| Gio |
Gio |
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| Goemai |
Goemai |
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| Guro |
Guro |
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| Ham |
Ham |
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| Ibibio |
Ibibio |
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| Ibo |
Ibo |
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| Ife |
Ife |
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| Igala |
Igala |
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| Igbo |
Igbo |
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| Ijo |
Ijo |
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| Ishan |
Ishan |
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| Isoko |
Isoko |
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| Jukun |
Jukun |
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| Khota |
Bakota |
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| Kissi |
Kissi |
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| Kongo |
Bakongo |
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| Kota |
Bakota |
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| Kran |
Kran |
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| Kuba |
Bakuba (a kingdom, not a tribe) See tribes in the Bakuba kingdom: Bushoong, Ngeende, |
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| Kukuruku |
Kukuruku |
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| Kuyu |
Kuyu |
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| Lega |
Balega |
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| Luba |
Baluba |
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| Lumbo |
Balumbo |
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| Lunda |
Lunda |
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| Makonde |
Makonde |
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| Mambunda |
Mambunda |
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| Mangbetu |
Mangbetu |
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| Mende |
Mende |
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| Montol |
Montol |
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| Nalu |
Nalu |
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| Ngeende |
Ngeende (also see Bushoong) |
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| Ngere |
Ngere |
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| Nok |
Nok |
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| Nupe |
Nupe |
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| Oron |
Oron |
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| Pende |
Bapende |
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| Senufo |
Senufo |
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| Sherbro |
Sherbro |
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| Shokwe |
Bachokwe |
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| Songe |
Basonge |
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| Songye |
Basonge |
YES
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| Tabwa |
Batabwa |
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| Temne |
Temne |
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| Tetala |
Batetela |
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| Tiv |
Tiv |
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| Urhobo |
Urhobo |
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| Wongo |
Bawongo |
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| Yoruba |
Yoruba |
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