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Life Cycle
LIFESTYLE Rituals related to the initiation into adulthood vary by ethnic
group. For young boys they often include a series of
Family (sometimes dangerous) tests and the transmission of
The extended family is the basic social unit; it includes the important knowledge. They may coincide with entrance into a
mother, father, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and secret society. Among the Gbaya, the process usually starts at
cousins. They may live together in one home, and great age seven and may last several years. The Sara gather teenage
emphasis is placed on taking care of elderly relatives. Adults boys once every ten years to live in the forest for a month,
often consider nieces and nephews as daughters and sons. after which they are trusted with more responsibilities.
Families are relatively large and can seem larger because Though illegal, female circumcision still plays a role in most
men may have more than one wife (or girlfriend). Each wife initiation rituals for young girls. Discussion about pregnancy
or girlfriend lives apart from the others. Women are is taboo. For example, asking when a baby is due is thought to
responsible for raising their children and providing the family risk bringing bad luck to mother and child. Central Africans
with food. The man provides money for school, clothing, and will travel great distances to attend the funeral of a relative or
the home. close friend. The family of the deceased must lodge, feed, and
Special pride is taken in introducing someone as, for pay the return trip for all such visitors. Funeral events can last
example, mon frère, même mère, même père (my brother, from a customary three days to a month depending on the
same mother, same father). Un frère (a brother) might be a importance of the deceased. Newborns who die are buried as
half brother or other relation. Un cousin (a cousin) could be a soon as possible to encourage their quick “return” in the form
very distant relative. Ita ti mbi (in Sango) can mean “brother,” of another baby.
“sister,” “half brother,” “cousin,” or even “close friend.”
Diet
Housing Lunch is the main meal of the day; dinner consists of
Homes may be made of mud or cement bricks, a dirt or leftovers or fruit. A traditional meal is ngunza with gozo.
cement floor, and a thatched or tin roof. The kitchen may be a Ngunza is a thick sauce made from ground cassava leaves,
thatched hut away from the home, where women cook over tomato paste, and peanut butter. A kpu (similar to a giant
an open fire; outhouses are also located away from the home. mortar and pestle) is used to grind the leaves and prepare
The wealthy might have a kitchen and bathroom attached to many other foods. Gozo is a thick paste made by soaking
their homes. People spend little time at home because they are cassava root in water, drying it in the sun, grinding it into
busy with daily activities. Houses in Bangui have electricity flour, and boiling it. Gozo is then formed into concave balls to
and running water, though these services are often scoop up ngunza. Meals may also include sauces with fish or
interrupted. Outside of the capital, there is no electricity. meat (beef, chicken, goat, sheep, gazelle, monkey, snake, and
Water sources may include a well or spring, which is even elephant).
sometimes located far from the house. Contaminated water is Catepillars are considered a gourmet dish, available only
a problem. during the rainy season. The country produces a variety of
fruits and vegetables, including sweet potatoes, tomatoes,
Dating and Marriage avocados, bananas, oranges, grapefruit, pineapples, guavas,
Rural inhabitants follow traditional courtship customs. papaya and mangoes. Imports include powdered milk, flour,
Parents sometimes arrange a marriage, and older men rice, and noodles. Banana and palm wine are common drinks.
sometimes take young women as wives. In larger urban areas,
men and women usually choose their own spouse. Although Recreation
illegal, the practice of paying a bride-price to the bride's Because girls and women do household work, tend the fields,
family is common. Depending on the groom's financial status and do the shopping, recreation mostly applies to men and
and reputation, the bride-price can be quite high. It consists of boys. They enjoy playing and watching soccer and basketball.
money, clothing, animals, jewelry, household items, food for Amateur teams compete in the capital and in each large town.
the wedding party, and other items. According to tradition, if Older people enjoy playing awale, a strategy game for two.
a woman leaves her husband, all of her children (including Schools provide all students with some recreation. Basketball,
those fathered by another man) belong to her husband until soccer, handball, and track-and-field are popular. Children
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AT A GLANCE
Contact Information
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