GABON CULTURE

GABON IS A COUNTRY ON THE WEST SIDE OF COAST OF  AFRICA. IN THE 1800'S  THE CAPITAL WAS THE LANDINGPLACE OF FREED SLAVES.  THERE ARE 9 PROVINCES NAMED AFTER THE RIVERS THAT SEPARATE THEM..  THERE ARE OVER 1 MILLION GABONESE.  ORIGINALLY THERE WERE PYGMIES, ONLY A FEW 1000 REMAIN.  THEIR GABON LANGUAGE  IS FRENCH.  MOST FOLKS KNOW TWO LANGUAGES.

TOOLS FROM STONE AGE INDICATE VERY EARLY HUMAN USE.MYENE CAME IN THE 13TH CENTURY AS A FISHING VILLAGE ON THE COAST.  DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS CAME AND WENT SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER.  BY THE 15TH CENTURY EUROPEANS CAME AND USED THE SLAVE TRADE. FOR 350 YEARS.  IN 1866  FRENCH BROUGHT A GOVERNOR AND GABON WAS PART OF FRENCH EQUATORIAL ZONE.  UNTIL 1960 GABON WAS STILL  FRENCH EQUATORIAL ZONE.  UNTIL 1960.

GABON WAS STILL FRENCH TERRITORY.  THEY HAVE MANY CEREMONIES AND ARE SPIRITUAL.  THEY HAVE NO MAJOR INTERCONFLICTS BETWEEN THE GROUPS AND INTERMARRIAGE IS COMMON.

URBAN INNER WEALTH AS CEMENT BUILDINGS TAKE OVER.  YET IN THEIR VILLAGES THEIR ECONOMICA HOUSES ARE FROM MUD AND COVERED WITH PALM FRONDS.  SOME HOUSES ARE WOOD BARK AND BRICK.  WEALTHY FAMILIES MIGHT BUILD WITH BRICKS.  IN ADDITION TO HOUSES MEN AND WOMEN HAVE DIFFERENT GATHERING PLACES.  WOMEN HAVE A KITCHENS FILLED WITH POTS AND BAMBOO RESTING AREAS.  MEN HAVE OPEN AREAS WITH LINED BENCHES AND A CENTRAL FIRE.

STAPLES VARY. THJEY EAT BANANAS, PAPAYAS, PINEAPPLES, GUAVAS, MANGOES, AVACADOES AND OTHER FRUITS.  EGGPLANT, FEED CORN, PLAINTAINS, PEANUTS, AND CASSAVA AND TENTER.  THEY FISHED AND HAD A LOT OF MEAT. 

WINE IS FROM PALM TREES AND SUGAR.  AOYA IS A HALLUCINOGENIC ROOT FOR CEREMONIES AND DEATH..  IT ACTS AS A STIMULANT.  IN LARGE QUANTITIES IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SEE THEIR ANCESTORS.   THEY OFFER DRUM AND SINGING AND DANCE.  90% OF THEIR FOOD IS IMPORTED, 

EACH VILLAGE OWNS THREE SQUARE MILES PROPERTY IS PASSED DOWNTHEIR CHILDREN.  IT HAS MANY RICHES.  IT PRODUCES THE WORLDS LARGEST AMOUNT OF LARGEST AMOUNT OF MANGANESE.  OIL IS A MAJOR EXPORT.  LEAD AND SILVER HAVE ALSO BEEN DISCOVERED.  IRON ORE IS NOT MINED.  FRANCE STILL RECEIVES MORE THAN 1/3OF GABON'S EXPORTED GOODS.

IT HAS HALF OF ITS IMPORTS.  IN 2000 60% WERE IN INDUSTRIAL SECTOR.  30% IN SERVICE AND 10% IN AGRICULTURE.  30% IN SERVICE AND 10% IN gRICULTURE .  tHEY HAVE SOCIOLOGICAL AND WILDLIFE PRESERVATION PROJECTS IN THE NORTH AND ON THE COAST.  THE PEACE CORP IS ACTIVE HERE.

THEY PRACTICE POLYGYNY BUT IT IS EXPENSIVE.  DIVORCE IS UNCOMMON.  SOME WOMEN CHOOSE MEN AND MEN CHOOSE WOMEN.  MOST EVERYONE IS MARRIED.  IT IS CO0MMON TO A HOME WHERE A HOME WITH THEIR PARENTS. AND EXTENDED RELATIVES.

WITHIN EACH GROUP OR TRIBES,  TRIBES LIVE IN THE SAME AREA.  CHILDREN ARE RAISED BY NEIGHBORING SIBLINGS/COMMMUNUALLY.  THEY START SCHOOL BY AGE 5 OR 6.

GABONESE ARE VERY COMMUNAL.  THEY HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT BELIEF SYSTEMS.  MOST ARE CHRISTIANS.  THERE ARE 3 TIMES AS MANY ROMAN CATHOLICS. AS PROTESTANTS.  BEVITI IS AN ANCESTRAL WORSHIP.  THERE ARE 2000 MUSLIMS.

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