Eshira people
Encyclopedia
The Shira or Sira peole, the Eshira, are a Bantu ethnic group
of Gabon
primarily living in the forests and grasslands south of the Ogooué River
and west of its tributary the N'Gounié.
The Eshira migrated into the area sometime in the 18th century, after wars with the Kele
and other groups. During the 19th century they traded slave
s with the Nkomi, and were highly regarded for their tobacco
and raphia cloth. Their numbers were greatly reduced by smallpox
epidemics in 1865 and 1898.
Paul du Chaillu
travelled through Eshira areas in 1858 and 1864, and recorded that each clan controlled its own affairs. Mulenda of the Kamba clan was the most important of the chiefs; he owned 300–400 slaves, and died of smallpox in 1885. The Holy Ghost Fathers
established a mission in 1895.
Subgroups of the Eshira include the Punu.
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
of Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
primarily living in the forests and grasslands south of the Ogooué River
Ogooué River
The Ogooué , some 1,200 km long, is the principal river of Gabon in west central Africa. Its watershed drains nearly the entire country of Gabon, with some tributaries reaching into the Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea....
and west of its tributary the N'Gounié.
The Eshira migrated into the area sometime in the 18th century, after wars with the Kele
Kele people (Gabon)
The Kele people are an ethnic group in Gabon with an estimated population of 10,774.They live in groups around Mimongo in or near Middle Ogooue Province.Their Kili language is part of the Northwest Bantu cluster....
and other groups. During the 19th century they traded slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
s with the Nkomi, and were highly regarded for their tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
and raphia cloth. Their numbers were greatly reduced by smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
epidemics in 1865 and 1898.
Paul du Chaillu
Paul du Chaillu
Paul Belloni du Chaillu was a French-American traveler and anthropologist. He became famous in the 1860s as the first modern outsider to confirm the existence of gorillas and the Pygmy people of central Africa. He later researched the prehistory of Scandinavia.-Early life:His date and place of...
travelled through Eshira areas in 1858 and 1864, and recorded that each clan controlled its own affairs. Mulenda of the Kamba clan was the most important of the chiefs; he owned 300–400 slaves, and died of smallpox in 1885. The Holy Ghost Fathers
Holy Ghost Fathers
The Congregation of the Holy Spirit is a Roman Catholic congregation of priests, lay brothers, and since Vatican II, lay associates...
established a mission in 1895.
Subgroups of the Eshira include the Punu.