Fang

Fang
/fang, fahng, fahonn/, n., pl. Fangs, (esp. collectively) Fang for 1.
1. Also called Pahouin, Pangwe. a member of an indigenous people of Gabon, Cameroon, and adjacent areas.
2. the Bantu language spoken by this people.
Also, Fan.

* * *

Bantu-speaking peoples of southern Cameroon, mainland Equatorial Guinea, and northern Gabon.

The Fang number about 3.6 million. Under colonial rule they engaged in ivory trading and after World War I in cacao farming. By 1939 much of the population was Christian, but since 1945 syncretistic sects have grown rapidly. The Fang are politically influential, especially in Gabon.

* * *

people
also spelled  Fãn  

      Bantu-speaking peoples occupying the southernmost districts of Cameroon south of the Sanaga River, mainland Equatorial Guinea, and the forests of the northern half of Gabon south to the Ogooué River estuary. They numbered about 3,320,000 in the late 20th century.

      The Fang speak languages of the Bantu subgroup of the Niger-Congo language family. They can be divided into three linguistic groups: (1) the Beti to the north, the main tribes being the Yaunde, or Éwondo, and Bene; (2) the Bulu, including the Bulu proper, Fong, Zaman, and Yelinda; and (3) the Fang in the south, including the Fang proper, Ntumu, and Mvae.

      According to tradition the Fang migrated into the forest from the savanna plateau on the right bank of the Sanaga River at the beginning of the 19th century. They were fine warriors and hunters and cultivated a reputation for cannibalism in order to repel outsiders and attacks from others. Under colonial rule they engaged in ivory trading; after World War I, they turned to large-scale cocoa farming.

      The Fang kinship system is strongly patrilineal, with large, patriarchal families and out-marrying clans traced through the male line. Among the southern Fang there is little political organization, whereas in the north some Beti groups have clan chiefs. By 1939 the entire population was reportedly Christian. Since 1945, however, there has been a rapid growth of syncretistic sects combining animistic and Christian beliefs with a cargo-cult element. All their native crafts, including wood carving and their once-reputed work in iron and steatite, have disappeared under Western influence. As a result of educational progress and relative economic prosperity, the Fang have become politically influential, especially in Gabon.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Fang — steht für: Fang (Arbeitssicherheit), Begriff aus dem Arbeitsschutz Fang (Ethnie), ethnische Gruppierung in Westafrika Fang (Shiyan) (房县), Kreis der Stadt Shiyan in Hubei Fang (Sprache), Bantusprache Fang VS, Ort im Schweizer Kanton Wallis einen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Fang Xi — (方腊) was a rebel in the Song Dynasty and also a nemesis of the 108 heroes of Liangshan in the epic Chinese tale, the Water Margin .Pronunciation of the nameThe Han characters 方腊 are pronounced as Fang Xi rather than Fang La . The confusion was… …   Wikipedia

  • Fang Xi — (方腊), ou Fang La (prononciation erronée du même nom), fut un rebelle du temps de la dynastie Song en Chine, relié à l histoire des 108 héroïques brigands du célèbre roman chinois Shuǐ Hǔ (水浒), « Le Bord de l eau ». Prononciation du nom… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • FANG — Les Fang, qui étaient 125 000 en 1958, forment plus du tiers de la population du Gabon, dont ils occupent le Nord et l’Ouest (ils étaient 425 000 en 1992, au Gabon). Leur groupe se prolonge au delà des frontières, en Guinée équatoriale orientale… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • fang — fang; fang·less; har·fang; in·fang·thief; lee·fang; out·fang·thief; ut·fang·thief; de·fang; ut·fang·thef; …   English syllables

  • Fang — Fang, n. [From {Fang}, v. t.; cf. AS. fang a taking, booty, G. fang.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) The tusk of an animal, by which the prey is seized and held or torn; a long pointed tooth; esp., one of the usually erectile, venomous teeth of serpents. Also,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fang La — Fāng Là (chinois simplifié : 方腊 ; chinois traditionnel : 方臘) fut un rebelle du temps de la dynastie Song en Chine, relié à l histoire des 108 héroïques brigands du célèbre roman chinois Au bord de l eau (水滸 Shuǐ Hǔ). La révolte de… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Fang — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Máscara fang La etnia Fang es originaria del interior del área continental de Guinea Ecuatorial. Esta etnia se encuentra así mismo en Gabón y Camerún, actualmente constituye el grupo étnico más numeroso en Guinea… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Fang — (f[a^]ng), v. t. [OE. fangen, fongen, fon (g orig. only in p. p. and imp. tense), AS. f[=o]n; akin to D. vangen, OHG. f[=a]han, G. fahen, fangen, Icel. f[=a], Sw. f[*a], f[*a]nga, Dan. fange, faae, Goth. fahan, and prob. to E. fair, peace, pact.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fang — O.E. fang prey, spoils, plunder, booty; a seizing or taking, from gefangen, pp. of fon seize, take, capture, from P.Gmc. *fango (Cf. O.Fris. fangia, M.Du., Du. vangen, O.N. fanga, Ger. fangen, Goth. fahan), from PIE root *pag to make firm, fix;… …   Etymology dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”