a group of peoples living in the Republic of Cameroon and adjacent regions of the People’s Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Rio Muni, and the Central African Republic. The Maka include the Ndzem, So, Ngumba, Bakwele, Kaka, and Pol. The total population numbers more than 300,000 people (1970, estimate). The language of the Maka belongs to the northwestern group of the Bantu language family. The Maka preserve their local traditional beliefs (nature and ancestor worship). Their chief occupations are farming, hunting, gathering rubber, and working on plantations.