Songye

The Songye are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group of central Africa, primarily in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with smaller communities in the Republic of the Congo. They speak the Songye language, part of the Bantu family, and are closely related to nearby groups such as the Luba and Kongo.

Traditionally, Songye society is organized around clans and lineages led by local chiefs; villages form the basic social unit, and age‑set practices govern ceremonial life. The economy is based on farming—millet, sorghum, yams, cassava, bananas—along with hunting, fishing, and trade. They inhabit forest and savanna zones and engage in artisanal crafts.

Songye art is widely recognized for intricate wood sculptures, including nkisi figures believed to embody spiritual forces, and the bifwebe masks used in ceremonial performances to enforce social norms and protect communities. Nkisi nkondi figures, loaded with substances and nails, are among the best known examples of Songye ritual objects.

Religious life traditionally centers on ancestor worship and belief in spirits that can be called upon through ritual specialists. Nkisi figures are used to house spirits and compel justice or protection. Since the colonial era, many Songye have also adopted Christianity, and some incorporate Christian beliefs with traditional practices.

Historically, the Songye region was part of complex precolonial polities and later came under Belgian colonial rule, experiencing the upheavals of the Congo Free State and Belgian Congo. In the modern era, the Songye continue to maintain cultural practices while participating in national politics and the regional economy, with diaspora communities in neighboring countries and worldwide.