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The Culture and People

The Culture
Gabon has a great number of ethnic groups, so there is a wide diversity of cultures and a variety of believes and rites. The worship of ancestors plays a predominant part in the life of most villagers. Masked and costumed dances accompanied by music and singing are the most important ritual ceremonies and take many forms.
The country is well known for its superb and dramatic hand carved masks used in ceremony and decoration; the mask itself is considered a sacred work. Fang masks from the northern regions are the most renowned. Small statues of people and animals are carved in hard woods and in soapstone.
The music is West African in style and traditional handcrafted musical instruments are still used.
The People
Population:
1,300,000
Ethnic composition:
Fang, Meyne, Bapounou, Eschira, Bandjabi, Bateke/ Obamba, Massango.
Religious composition:
Christian, indigenous
Languages spoken:
French (official), Fang, Meyene, Bateke, Bapounou, Eschira, Bandjabi, Massango
Internet Links
www.ga.refer.org/gabon
www.arts.uwa.edu.au/aflit/countrygabonfr.html
www.afromix.org/disco/pays/gabon/indexfr.html
www.citeweb.net/bateke
www.iboga.org