Bateke

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Bateke are a Central African ethnic group. Its population is situated mainly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo and with a minority in Gabon. The president of Gabon, Omar Bongo (known before his conversion to Islam as Albert-Bernard Bongo), is a member of the Bateke.

Unusually for central-African people, the Bateke historically breed dogs and cats for domestic purposes. The chien bateke is a small lean hunting dog with a short, medium gray coat. The chat bateke is large house cat with nearly the same coloring as the dog of the same name. A majority of domesticated cats and dogs in areas bordering the Congo River are of these breeds, though ownership of domesticated animals in general is rare in the region.