Subject: mercenary warrior

Culture: tribal Congolese = Azande, Mongo, Ngombe, others

Setting: Belgian Congo late 19th-early 20thc

Event Photos

* Diagram group 2000 p39

"The Azande, an ethnic group with several sub-groups, live in northeast Central African Republic and neighboring regions of Congo (Dem. Rep.), and Sudan. 'Azande' is the plural of 'Zande.' The total number of Azande -- who were formerly known as Niam-Niam -- is estimated at between 750,000 and 2,000,000.

"History The Azande are of very mixed origins. More than 200 years ago, a people known as the Ambomou lived on the banks of the Mbomou River, which forms part of the present-day border between the Central African Republic and Congo (Dem. Rep.). The Ambobou were dominated by the royal Avongara clan, who led them in a campaign of conquest of neighboring subgroups. This campaign led them into Sudan. Some of the conquered subgroups retained their own languages, but most of them regard themselves as Azande, no matter how much they differ from one another."

* Bacquart 1998 p141

"Like the Mangbetu, their neighbours, the Zande (also called Azande) migrated during the 18th century from Sudan to the northern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), settling on the banks of the Uele River. They occupy a region of savannah and forest and in common with the Mangbetu, Zande men hunt and fish while the women tend the fields. In political terms, this tribe of 750,000 people is ruled by a king with succession to the throne passing to his eldest son, while the younger ones govern the kingdom's provinces. This political structure is counterbalanced by the Mani secret society, created at the turn of the century."

Primary Sources

Secondary Sources

Field Notes