Azande

Azande, central African tribes belonging to the Sudanic language group and inhabiting the basins of the Uélé and Ubangi rivers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, formerly Zaire). Known also as the Nyam-Nyam, they follow an economy based on agriculture and supplemented by hunting. Their houses, situated on homesteads scattered in clearings, are conical in shape, with thatched roofs and walls of mud or wattle and daub. Arts and crafts are well developed and include ivory and wood carving, metalwork, and pottery. The religion of the Azande centers around a supreme being called Mboli, to whom offerings are made. Divination plays an important part in daily ritual.

Beginning in the 18th century, an Azande clan known as the Avongara established personal kingdoms throughout this central African region, and a number of Azande tribes are still ruled by members of this clan. Descent is generally traced through the male line. A chief rules over a group or tribe, and his brothers and sons hold subordinate posts as provincial administrators, appointing commoners as their deputies. The Azande today number about 750,000.

See also African Languages.