HSC Africanist Sign André Hallet Belgian Congo Dance Mangbetu Drums 1930/35

century from upper Ituri to the southwest of Lake Albert. Mangbetu country is located in the north-eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on either side of the Bomokandi, a tributary of the Uele; not very extensive; it does not exceed 140 kilometers from east to west and 100 kilometers from south to north. Once much larger, the kingdom was brought to its political and cultural peak by Nabiembali, who reigned from 1815 to 1860 and was a great organizer. In order to facilitate the assimilation of vanquished peoples, Nabiembali established a national-type family policy: he left the chief in place but immediately married a girl from his family. The sons born from these unions (there were more than sixty) were raised near the king (educated according to the customs and in the lang.