Bateke
Bateke
a people living along the middle reaches of the Congo River, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the People’s Republic of the Congo, and in the Republic of Gabon. Their total number is about 900,000 (1967 estimate). The language spoken by the Bateke is Kiteke, belonging to the Bantu language family. Most Bateke adhere to traditional beliefs, although some are Christian. Their principal occupations are tropical farming (cassava, legumes), fishing, and gathering of fruits. Some Bateke work on oil palm plantations and in enterprises at Kinshasa, Brazzaville, and elsewhere.