Any of several peoples living in the African equatorial forest. They speak a dialect of a common language, Mongo or Nkundo, which belongs to the
Niger-Congo language family. The Mongo traditionally cultivated cassava and bananas in addition to hunting, fishing, and gathering. Mongo religion emphasizes
ancestor worship and nature spirits; it also features magic and witchcraft. Their art has been mainly oral, and they have a rich talking-drum and song literature. They number some five million.
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