The Bakongo people were primarily agriculturalists, cultivating a wide range of crops including cassava, yams, maize, millet, beans and groundnuts (peanuts). They also practiced shifting cultivation, where they would clear a new area of forest, plant their crops, and then move on once the soil became exhausted.
Fishing and Hunting:
- The Bakongo supplemented their diet through fishing and hunting in the nearby rivers and forests. They used nets, hooks and spears to catch fish, and bows and arrows to hunt for game such as antelope, wild boar and monkeys.
Trade and Commerce:
-The Bakongo were also skilled traders, and engaged in long-distance trade with other African ethnic groups as well as with European merchants. They traded goods such as salt, ivory, copper, slaves, and agricultural products.
Metalworking:
-The Bakongo were renowned for their skill in metalworking, and were able to produce iron tools, weapons, jewelry and other metal objects.
Crafts and Textiles:
- The Bakongo women were skilled in weaving cloth and making baskets, pottery, and other household items. They also produced intricately carved wooden sculptures, masks and other art objects.