This is a work in progress wherein we will try to list tribal information such as name variations, geographical distribution, sub-groups, and other items of interest to the collector.
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Abe Abbey. Central lagoon region of southeast Côte d'Ivoire. This small area contains some dozen peoples speaking around 15 languages who are collectively known as lagunaires. Abidji Western lagoon region of southeast Côte d'Ivoire. This small area contains some dozen peoples speaking around 15 languages who are collectively known as lagunaires. Abron Brong. An eastern Akan group in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Abure Eastern lagoon region of southeast Côte d'Ivoire. This small area contains some dozen peoples speaking around 15 languages who are collectively known as lagunaires. Adanse Adjukru Adioukrou. Western lagoon region of southeast Côte d'Ivoire. This small area contains some dozen peoples speaking around 15 languages who are collectively known as lagunaires. Afo Agbogho monnwhu Agwa Eastern lagoon region of southeast Côte d'Ivoire. They appear to have been absorbed by their neighbors. This small area contains some dozen peoples speaking around 15 languages who are collectively known as lagunaires. Aizi Western lagoon region of southeast Côte d'Ivoire. This small area contains some dozen peoples speaking around 15 languages who are collectively known as lagunaires. Akan Aladyan Alladian, Brignan. Western lagoon region of southeast Côte d'Ivoire. This small area contains some dozen peoples speaking around 15 languages who are collectively known as lagunaires. Attie Atié, Akye, Ankye. Central lagoon region of southeast Côte d'Ivoire. This small area contains some dozen peoples speaking around 15 languages who are collectively known as lagunaires. Ambo Anang Anyang Arugba Asante Ashanti Asinda Avikam Western lagoon region of southeast Côte d'Ivoire. This small area contains some dozen peoples speaking around 15 languages who are collectively known as lagunaires. Bafo Cross River area of southwestern Nigeria Baga Bakota singular Kota Balante Guinea Bali - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Bambara - Mali, another name for the Bamana. Bambara means infidel or barbarian, a name given by Moslem invaders. Banmara, which they used to refer to themselves, means "accept no master." Bamana - Mali, another name for the Bambara Bamileke Bamum Bangba - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Bangubangu - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Bangwa Bankoni Banyambo Tanzania Barambu Democratic Republic of the Congo Bariba Barotse singular Rotse Basikasingo Bassa Bassa-Nge Baule Beke - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Bemba - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Bembe Beembe, Mbembe, Wabembe - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Bena Luluwa Benaluluwa Bende West Tanzania Benin Bete Betsi Bijema Bjiri Bidjogo Bira - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Boa - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Bobo Bodo - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Boki Cross River area of southwestern Nigeria Bongo Sudan Boni Somalia and Kenya Borana Southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya Bozo - Mali Buganda Uganda Bundu Bunda, Mbunda. Eastern Zambia Burra Buyu - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Bwa Bwaka singularWaka Bwende Bwile - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Byeri Byeru - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Chagga Chamba Chokwe Tschokwe, Tshokwe, Jokwe - there have been about 30 different spellings thru the years! Chopi South Africa Dabakala Dakakari Dagari Burkina Faso Dan Dinka Agar Sudan Dioula Djenne Dogon The precise origins of these cliff-dwelling inhabitants of the Bandiagara Escarpment have been lost in the mists of time, but several scholars have suggested that the Dogon may have come into the region from the Nile Valley, via Libya and Niger, sometime in the fifteenth century A.D. With their tight-knit social structure, they have resisted the various waves of Islam that have swept through Mali, maintaining their traditional way of life. Animists, the Dogon have one of the most elaborate cosmologies to be found in this region of the world. Dorobo Hunters and gathers in northwest Tanzania Ebandza Edan Ega Western lagoon region of southeast Côte d'Ivoire. This small area contains some dozen peoples speaking around 15 languages who are collectively known as lagunaires. The Ega have strong links with the peoples to the west. Ejagham Eket Ekoi Ekonda Elefon Elegba Eotile Vetre. An eastern Akan group in the lagoon region of southeast Côte d'Ivoire. This small area contains some dozen peoples speaking around 15 languages who are collectively known as lagunaires. Epa Esuma Essuma, Assini. Eastern lagoon region of southeast Côte d'Ivoire. This small area contains some dozen peoples speaking around 15 languages who are collectively known as lagunaires. The Esuma appear to have been absorbed by their neighbors. Ewe Fale Fang Fante Fanti. Fon Fulani With their fine, aqualine facial features, commonly associated with North African peoples, these Muslim cattle herders live primarily in the Inland Niger River Delta of Mali between Mopti and Djenné. Fulani women are readily recognizable by their exquisite adornments--large gold earrings known as kwottenai kanye, heavy silver rings and bangles, and hairdos that incorporate large amber beads, Maria Theresa silver dollars, and Venetian glass beads. Fuga Gamas Ethiopa Gan Gaola Gato Gbekre Geh Ghimbala Gio Giryama Giriama Gogo Goma plural Wagoma - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Gon Grebo Guerre Guin Gurage Guro Gurunsi Gwa M'bato, M'Batto. Eastern lagoon region of southeast Côte d'Ivoire. This small area contains some dozen peoples speaking around 15 languages who are collectively known as lagunaires. Hamba - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Hausa Hemba - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Hehe Holoholo - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Hungana East central Democratic Republic of the Congo Ibo Igbo Ibibio Idoma Igala Igbira Igbo Ibo Ijo Iraqw Tanzania Jaba Jukun Wurkun Kafigeledio Kaguru Kaka Kanu - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Kara Tanzania Karamojong Karsina Katsina Kete Kerebe Tanzania Kholuka Kigango Kikuyu Gikuyu - Kenya Kipsigi - Kenya Kissi Kiteki Koma ba Komo - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Kongo - plural Bakongo Konso Koro Kpaniya Kpelie Kponiugo Kran Krinjabo Krobu Central lagoon region of southeast Côte d'Ivoire. This small area contains some dozen peoples speaking around 15 languages who are collectively known as lagunaires. Kru Kuba plural Bakuba Kusu - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Kuyu Kwame - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Kwele Kwere - Tanzania Kyaman Ebrie, Tshaman. Eastern lagoon region of southeast Côte d'Ivoire. This small area contains some dozen peoples speaking around 15 languages who are collectively known as lagunaires. Lamba - Zambia Landuma Guinea Lega Balega, Rega, Warega - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Leka - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Lele Lemba - South Africa. Long-standing claims by the Lemba to be descendants of the Kohanim (hereditary priests) of Israel Lenge South Africa Lengola - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Lese - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Liko - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Lobi Lombi - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Lomotwa - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Lovale Lobedu South Africa Lovedu Lozi Luba - Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are groups in the east as well as the Luba Upemba Lunda - Zambia Luvale - Zambia Lwena Luena Lulua Luluwa Lungu Tanzania, Zambia Lwalwa Lumbo Mbala Mbanja - Democratic Republic of the Congo Mabea Mahafaly Madagasgar Masai Mbo - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Mbuti - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Makonde Mande - Mali. A group of related West African languages and a general name of the culture common among those speaking these similar languages. Mandinka Mandingo Mangbetu - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Marka Mbete Ambete Mbole Mboye Mfumte Mahongwe Mambila Mau Medje - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Mende Mendi Mindumu Mongo Mossi Mpo Mumuye Munchi Mvuba - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Nalu Eastern Guinea, Guinea-Bissau Nande - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Ndabi Ndaaka - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Ndebele Ndengese Dengese Ngbaka - Democratic Republic of the Congo Ngbandi Ngere Ngoni - Zambia Nguni Nkondi Nok Ntumu Nupe Namji Nyamwezi Nyanga - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Nyanzi Nyindu - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Nyoro Uganda Obamba Ogboni Ogowe Ogoni Okua Ondumbo Ondoumbo Oromo Ovambo Namibia Ovimbundu Owe Owo Pangwa Pedi Pende plural Bapende Pere - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Pfemba Pomdo Southern Sierra Leone Punu Shira-Punu Pygmy Pigmy, Twa Qua Rungu - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Sakalava Madagasgar Salampasu Samburu San Sango Sanwi Côte d'Ivoire Segou Senufo Originally from what is now Ivory Coast, these subsaharan peoples live in the southern reaches of Mali near Sikasso. Shamaye Shangaan South Africa Sherbo Sherbro-Bullom Shi - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Suku Shilluk Sudan Shona Shoona Sikasingo Sikka Sokoto Somali Somalia and Kenya Songhai A subsaharan people who migrated from northern Benin to Mali in the seventh century, the Songhai live in the Sahel between Timbuktu and Gao, the latter once capital of the Songhai Empire. Like the Fulani, they pride themselves in personal adornment; the women like their Fulani counterparts favoring large amber beads, coins, and agate finger rings woven into their hair. Songola - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Songye plural Basongye Soninke Sotho Suku Surma Sudan Swahili Zanzibar and Tanzania Swazi Tabwa - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Tale - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Teke plural Bateke Tellem Temne Tetela Thonga Tikar Tiv Tjiwara Chiwara Toma Toubou Group engaged in the salt trade around Bilma, Niger. Tongwe Small group living among the Bende in western Tanzania. Tsogho Tsonga South Africa Tuareg Nomadic camel herders of Berber origin who inhabit eastern Mali and Niger, the Tuareg migrated into the western Sahara following the Arab invasion of North Africa in the seventh century A.D. The Tuareg have been called the "blue people of the desert," because of the deep azure color imparted by indigo dye beaten into their garments. Ownership of costly indigo garments is reserved for the elite; blue pigment on one's skin a mark of high status. Tuareg camps are scattered throughout the northernmost reaches of the country; a few can be found in the shadow of the Bandiagara Escarpment. Tumbwe - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Tutsi Burundi, Rwanda, Eastern Congo Twifo Twifo Hemang Urhobo Uhrobo Venda Vezo Madagasgar Vili Wassa Wongo Woyo Xhosa Yaka plural Bayaka Yaure Yaoure Yombe plural Mayombe Yoruba Yuroba, Yaruba, Yourba Zande Azande - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Zaramo - Zaromo, Zoromo Zimba - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Zela - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Zombo Zulu |
