Teke Painted Wood Mask Congo

The Teke tribal people originate from the Ogowe region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon. They are part of the Kidumu tribe, which has very strong spiritual values, and the family is the most important social unit of the tribe. The Teke people usually have one family head who has the right to life and death over all the family members and is often called upon as a tribunal chief or mfumu mpugu to decide the fate of a family member when they have committed wrongdoings. The tribal chief has a tendency to own many slaves and control the lives of others as he increases his power and status. The name of the Teke people originates from the occupation of the tribal Teke people, that is, trading from Teke, meaning to buy. The economy of the Teke is mainly based on farming maize, millet, and tobacco, but the Teke are also hunters, skilled fishermen, and traders. They believe in a supreme being, the creator of the universe, called Nzambi, whose favors can be obtained with the help of tutelary spirits.

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