Mongo people
 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 12 million | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| Languages | |
| Mongo language | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, African Traditional Religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Bantu peoples |
The Mongo are one of the Bantu groups of Central Africa, forming the second largest ethnic group in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are a diverse collection of peoples living in the equatorial forest, south of the main Congo River bend and north of the Kasai and Sankuru Rivers. This area is in the south of the province of Équateur and the north of Bandundu Province.
The Mongo speak either the Mongo language (also called Nkundo) or one of the related languages in the Bantu Mongo family. The Lingala language, however, often replaces Mongo in urban centers. Along with the Luba and the Kongo, they are the three largest ethnic groups in the country.
The Mongo ethnic group is divided into several tribes including Bolia, Bokote, Bongandu, Iyaelima, Konda, Mbole, Nkutu, Ntomba, Sengele, Songomeno, Dengese and Tetela-Kusu, Bakutu, Boyela.
The musician Jupiter Bokondji is of Mongo descent. [1]