Wednesday, 30 October 2024

THE ANZIKU KINGDOM

The Anziku Kingdom, also known as the Teke Kingdom, Tyo Kingdom, or Tio Kingdom, was a pre-colonial state located in modern-day Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Democratic Republic of Congo. The kingdom was centered around the Congo River near the Pool Malebo and extended northwest to the upper Kouilou-Niari basin. The BaTeke people, who dominated the kingdom, lived on the plateaus of the region. The kingdom was ruled by a king known as a makoko, who governed over 13 vassal kings. The Anziku Kingdom had a thriving economy, manufacturing and selling fabrics made from plants, trading ivory and copper from their mining activities. Later, they engaged in the slave trade. The presence of rich copper mines within their kingdom let to conflicts with their southern neighbour, Kongo. The Anziku people practiced customs such as facial scarification and had elaborate dress and hairstyles. The commoners were bare chested but the rich wore clothes from head to toe. They were known for their excellent warfare skills, specializing in archery with poisoned arrows and using battle axes. In the late 19th century, the kingdom became a French vassal state under a treaty signed with the French naval officer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, continuing under French protection until the present day. [Sources: Volavkova, Zdenka. "Crown and Ritual: The Royal Insignia of Ngoyo" (1998), Malte-Brun, Conrad. "Universal Geography: Or, A Description of the World, on a New Plan, According to the Great Natural Divisions of the World" (1829), Vansina, Jan. "The Tio Kingdom of the Middle Congo, 1880-1892" (1973)]

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...