Growing Up Sexually

 

 

BANGALA, BOLOKI (CONGO)

 

Index →Africa→Congo →Bangala

Also: Zaire

Featured: Lega, Mangbetu, Lalia-Ngolu, Bahuana, Batetela, Nkundo Mongo, Mbuti, Bala, Lele, Bangala

 

 

Weeks (1910:p416)[1] in Upper Congo: “Boys and girls from an early age until puberty have free intercourse with each other, and I believe that later there is no public condemnation if the girls are not betrothed. […] Premenstrual connection is desired by men because they like it, and also because they can indulge freely and there is no palaver, and it is not until the beginning of the periods that girls are guarded from promiscuous intercourse”. After puberty, restrictions were placed on the girl, and the act was regarded as adultery. Weeks (1909:p442)[2] claimed there were no virgins beyond the age of five years, and after puberty. Among the Boloki “it is impossible to find a virgin above five years of age” (Weeks, 1911:p127)[3].

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Janssen, D. F., Growing Up Sexually. VolumeI. World Reference Atlas. 0.2 ed. 2004. Berlin: Magnus Hirschfeld Archive for Sexology

Last revised: Sept 2004

 


[1] Weeks, J. H. (1910) Anthropological Notes on the Bangala of the Upper Congo River. (Part III), J Royal Anthropol Instit Great Britain & Ireland 40:360-427

[2] Weeks, J. H. (1910) Anthropological Notes on the Bangala of the Upper Congo River. (Part II), J Royal Anthropol Instit Great Britain & Ireland 39:416-59. “Above the age of five years it would be impossible to find a girl who is a virgin”.

[3] Weeks, J. H. (1911) Among Congo Cannibals.London: Seeley, Service & Co