Ancient history

Who were the bantu people and where did they originally come from?

The Bantu people are an ethnolinguistic group native to sub-Saharan Africa. They are the largest ethnic group in Africa, and their languages are spoken by over 350 million people in 25 African countries.

The Bantu people originated in West Africa, and their expansion across sub-Saharan Africa is known as the Bantu migrations. The Bantu migrations are believed to have begun in the 10th century CE, and by the 16th century the Bantu people had reached as far south as South Africa.

The Bantu people brought with them a number of technological and cultural innovations, including ironworking, agriculture, and pottery. They also developed a complex social and political system, based on chiefdoms and kingdoms. The Bantu people have a rich cultural heritage, which includes music, dance, and art.

Today, the Bantu people are a diverse group, and their cultures vary from region to region. However, they share a common language and a common history, and they continue to play a vital role in the development of Africa.