The Gabonese people is compose about 48 ethnic groups stemming from different spaces regionaux. Every group of origin Bantou, Fang, Bakota, Mbede, Okande, Myene, Mene, contains several dialects. In certain ethnic groups the number of speakers is tres reduit.
Among these populations, Pygmees has a place has part. They have ete the most former(ancient) has to occupy the territory and were of use of guide to Bantous which often had the temptation to dominate them and to exploit(run) them. They are appeles differemment according to regions. Their social order is patrilineaire. Traditionally nomads, one notices today a tendency has the sedentarisation. The group Bakota is concentrate especially in the northeast and has is him(her,it) of the country. Fang lives essentially in the region of Woleu-Ntem, one finds them egalement in Ogooue lvindo, Average Ogooue and the Estuary. They practise the cult of ancetres, Byeri, social order of these two groups is patrilineaire.
The group Mbede occupies the region is and southeast of the Gabun. The group Mene is present in the regions of the centre and the South of the country: Nyanga, Ngounie, Moyen-Ogooue and Ogooue-Lolo. Their type of filiation is matrilineaire. The group Okande, which occupies the centre of the country and the group Myene, which populates the West to code and the region of Ogooue-Maritime, presentent the two systemes of filiation.
Little of geographie Gabun, 268 000 km2, is place on both sides of Ecuador. Widely opened on the Atlantic ocean, he is an inhabitant of the border zone of Guinee Equatoriale, Cameroon and Congo. The zone cotiere, etend on 800 km, composee essentially of plains sedimentaires. Estuaries and deltae are line of paletuviers. Bit covers more than 75 % of the country. Okoume and Ozigo are the main essences exploitees, among the 400 especes of trees and shrubs. The deboisement of in plantations vivrieres and has the exploitation of the wood aims primary bit for the benefit of one secondary bit has to move back, lower and dense. The savanna meets on the coast, in the vallee of Ngounie, Nyanga, in Haut-Ogooue. The main mountain massifs are Crystal mountains and the Massif of Chaillu. Ogooue crosses the country of is in the West on 1 200 km.
Climate It is type equatorial, warm and wet (> 90 %) and caracterise by of important precipitations, depassant the 3 m in some regions and a temperature varying 20 has 35 °. One distinguishes there several seasons: a small September rainy season has debut decembre a small season seche during the months of decembre and in January a big rainy season of fevrier has in June a big season seche of June has in September It is has the occasion of the rainy seasons when temperatures is most elevees, but it is especially at night that cloudbursts beat(come) down on the country, during thunderstorms tres violent, and terribly impressive, the journee etant
Little of archeologie search archeologique in the Gabun is debute in annees 1886 old by the collections of surface effectuees by the administrators, archeologues amateurs. This shape of search continues until annees on 1960. Afterward, Societe Prehistorique and Protohistorique Gabonaise ( SPPG), animee by Bernard Farine, first director of the Francais cultural centre, begins a veritable prospecting. premieres searches(excavations) archeologiques on the set(group) of the territory dates this epoque. Universite Omar Bongo, then CICIBA open departements of archeologie and multiply the operations of searches(excavations) and datings until 1987. The researchers have determine the most former(old) tracks of the human presence in the Gabun by the decouverte of tools cut in all the provinces. These objects date the Average Age of Pierre (of - 100 000 has - 10 000 years). The Age Recent of Pierre (of 10 000 ha 2 000 years) caracterise by the presence of armatures of fleches. In Neolithique (from 2 000 to the debut of the ere chretienne), appears the metallurgie of the iron which will cover all the Age of the Iron. Industry lithique, polishing of the stone and production of ceramiques former(old), date these different periodes.
Rites and faiths The nganga: in the Gabun, he is a traditional person who, has the city as has the campaign, always has a big tres importance. It(he) possede the universal knowledge which has him(her) ete passed on by practices esoteriques.
Recognized and respect as such, one consults him(it) for any sorts of things and notably for the knowledge of plants and of their virtues therapeutiques. It is the guerisseur or tradipraticien but also the magician. So, it(he) is consult to look after physical and psychological troubles. Wrongly, one names him sometimes a magician. Regrettably, in city notably, numerous quacks preside(officiate) and abuse sometimes the credulite of the population. It is not rare that different facts, dregs in the doubtful practices of pseudo-nganga, are bring back(report) in the columns of the local newspapers.
genies or imbwiri: in popular faiths, imbwiri is always presents in the daily life. tres susceptible, they are colereux or genereux. In every case, it is better to have them with one and to make what it is necessary for it. Only the people know spirits defenders. The etymologie of the proper nouns of numerous villages often makes reference for imbwiri, notably in the region of Feman-Vaz but also has Mouila and in the numerous tres iles of the country. Bwiti: Mabego my go tsina my kea nadje? Litteralement in tsogo, " the things of the earth(ground), they go how? "
Bwiti is a secret rite of male initiation which allows the persons who practise him(it) of acceder has the other world. One of the aspects concerns the cult of the ancetres of which one keeps(preserves) the crane and the shins. However the main thing reside in the knowledge superieure of the world and the things grace in virtues hallucinogenes of the root of the iboga, appele tree of the science. This rite credibly of origin Tsogo is has the time priesthood and science. It(he) can etre eleve to the rank of religion as fact the anthropologist Rene Bureau in the work religion and iboga. Today, it(he) took a big tres dimension in the Gabun. Some seances of entertainment or dances funebres are public and take place in the temple of Bwiti or mbanja. The mbanja or "the guardroom" is a big wooden compartment and a straw, widely opened on one of quotations. It(he) serves of community room for the village except Bwiti's seances. The iboga: In Gabonese rites, intervenes a big number of plants.
The iboga is " the plant of the initiation " for the virtues hallucinogenes. It(he) owes etre use under the controle of the nganga.
Tradition and modernite plastic arts Traditionally, big domestic executives of the social life were clans and chalk-linings, however the groups were also organize there confreries initiatory to regler the social, legal and religious order of the village. Some exist even today of maniere syncretique. Bwiti is most celebre male company, but also Ngil of fang, Mwiri of punu, Mungala of the Kola... These associations have arouse the creation of numerous symbolic and liturgical objects or concern esthetique is certain. Statues, masks, posts, doors sculptees, emblemes of power, jewels, weapons... Finally, the cult of ancetres was original: the deaths always accompany the alive. One respects them and one is afraid of them. The conservation of relics was repandue at all the peoples of the Gabun. fang, for example, practises the cult of Byeri. This term definit has the time? uvre sculptee and faith. A basket or one limps kept(preserved) bones, whereas above a figure anthropomorphe of wood skates representait symbolically died the most illustrious of the chalk-lining. In the Gabun, has the difference of the other producing African countries of statues and masks, main deserving subject of etre draft is the man through the ancetre. From this siecle, social alterations have entraine the progressive desolation of certain rites and their plastic representation. Neanmoins, one notes that certain masks, dances and musics which accompany them, survive, plutot under the shape of demonstrations social. One can quote Ngol to kota and Bwiti of Mitsogho. Today masks, statuettes, figures of reliquary of origin fang, kota, punu, tsogho caracterises by their big qualite blow up, are among them? uvres of first art best cotees of walking of the international art. They make the prestige of the big musees, art galleries and collections privees from the whole world. The anonymity of the sculptors is a legende, owed often has the meconnaissance of this societes in their globalite by the art lovers. In every group, the true artists were searches for creer? uvres important.
Contemporary arts The plastic surgeons, or self-taughts, arises from the National School of Arts and Manufacture ( ENAM) of Libreville either of ecoles of art has the etranger, are there quete of original roads enter tradition and modernite, or nes of the cultural metissage. The painters, the sculptors, ceramistes, designers express themselves through numerous media: oil, acrylic, carving, sculpture on wood and stone, joinings(assemblies) of scrap, installations...? uvres the most popular are sculptees in Mbigou's stone. Artists work this limestone with talent, although one notices a repetition of the forms which epuise plastic language. The Guide of the Contemporary African Art 1996 not repertorie not less than 62 artists, without counting the Gabonese createurs alive has the etranger. In 1991, the Foundation of Gabonese Contemporary Art was born under the aegis of the ministere of the Culture and Arts, Societe Shell Gabon and the Francais Saint-Exupery cultural centre. It is the first African collection(fund) of contemporary art. In the CCF, the October salon welcomes? uvres plastic surgeons residant in the Gabun. Several prices are decernes. The International Centre of Civilizations Bantou ( CICIBA), cree in 1983 by President Bongo, organizes the Biennal of Art Bantou. The artists, notice several times in the salon and has the biennal, acquierent a notoriete which is of use to them of quotation on walking of the local art and regional. Certain artists had the happy initiative to open centres of creations and dynamic exhibitions.
The oral litterature litterature, she(it) differencie fundamentally of the Occidental conception of the litterature ecrite, codifiee and in a certain sense(direction) figee. It is what makes the force and its fragilite. The force, because it is the shape of alive art which follows and gives rhythm to daily life. Song, music, mimer on one hand, public on the other hand participate has his creation. The narrator - singer not concoit not in soloist but does not exist that by and with the group which assists him(it). The fragilite, because the oralite gets lost in the contemporary Gabonese societe, and because the vernacular languages in which occur this creations is little pratiquees by the short story(piece of news) generation. Their translation in francais, if it allows a work interessant on this o euvres, is not less of it reductrice. Kinds(genres) litteraires Gabonese are multiple: tales, rocking chairs and bed songs, proverbs, myths, epopees... Tale expresses best their originalite. It(he) can not say himself that the night, the moment of fusion between the world of ancetres and that of the alive. It is also the time of the rest which allows the participation of all. The public is a co-author, as in a song. Subject is there general direct to the resolution of a conflict prealablement announce. The thematique remains unchanging, but it is not forbidden to exaggerate around the history. A good narrator distinguishes himself by his eloquence and his sense(direction) of the theatre. Through the playful aspect, morality is always the final vocation of the tale which takes a dimension educative.
Music and song The report between the African music, the song and the oral tradition is extremement hardly. Song follows of pres the intonations of the language parlee. It is this link etroit with the language, which is deja in him - meme a sort of melodie, who caracterise music and African song and differencie of the Occidental melodies.
Songs pygmees. The song of pygmees is polyphonique: they sing rarely has harmony when they are has some. Their music, tres elaboree on the formal plan, is rythmee by relatively simple percussions, constituees by beatings of hands and baguettes entrechoquees the some against the others. Musical construction is rigorous but allows a certain liberte of improvisation of the participants. One says that all pygmees is musicians, the artist does not so like it a place has part.
Return has tradition. II is impossible to quote all the contemporary Gabonese singers. Pierre Claver Akendengue is one of first having retie with the tradition. It(he) wanted to find the roots in creant the group Zakuma, in 1976. The key song which has sign the time of this evolution is " Nkere ", into whom it introduced the traditional instruments. D has reintroduit also the ch? ur of women in the songs: " To us, ch? urs are not an ornamentation, lilies are the song she(it) meme and the soloist is only to intone and to boost(relaunch) ". Find as we be t not here what makes the wealth of the Gabonese tale, of which the public, the co-author, participates in the tune... The choir song on Lowe continues this tradition. Vickoss Ekondo and his(its,her) group Tandima hold also a big place in the current Gabonese music. Songs and dances stemming from the tradition are confidentially meles in the spectacles. In a style different, Oliver Ngoma, fascinates of zouk antillais, is one of the rising etoiles of the country.
Musical instruments. Instruments has percussion are traditionally the most important: they are drums has two membranes of antelope, sechees, tightened(stretched out) with lanieres which the player maintains between his legs. There are also drums has foot with a single skin tightened(stretched out) with wooden corners(places) on which the musician, standing, knocks has hands bare. Fang possedent a drum of type different, Nkul, size in a trunk evide intends has to make box of resonance. Fuss, which can reach(affect) a metre of length, is put on two trunks of banana tree and maintained with holds. The xylophone is a musical instrument crowns(consecrates). Pose(installation) has meme the ground on trunks of banana tree, it is cheek by two musicians dancers, headgears of feathers and carrying(wearing) necklaces has bells. These must have followed an initiation, quite as the player of Mvet. Among instruments has ropes, one of the most known is Ngombi, harp has eight ropes. To play the musical bow, the artist uses the mouth as box of resonance. From zither primitive, is creee, by adding ropes and resonateurs compose of gourds, the celebre harp - zither Mvet of Fang. Miscellaneous the other musical instruments give rhythm to fetes villagers: Sanza for example, small guitar composee of a serie of small strips of rattan or of metal vibrating, posees on one limps forming the box of resonance. Bells in metal, rattles, little spherical bells (small armatures of rattan containing seeds) are, in the ritual fetes, the instruments of communication with him(her,it) in - dela.
Dance oral tradition, music and dance forms a quite inextricable. At the certain moments it is the musical aspect which predomine, then it is song or gesture... Dance allows the transmission of knowledge and the communication of the man with the universe. She(it) lives(remains) in the Gabun a fundamental value. Birth, the child is taken in the rhythm of the dance. She(it) is inextricable initiatory rites. She(it) has a social realite and economique and intervenes has moments privilegies in the life of the Gabonese. Gabun counts about l 000 dancers regroup in 26 troops affiliees has Federation of Dance of the Gabun ( FEDAG). Creee in 1988, this ONG is rattachee in the International council of the Dance ( CID) of the UNESCO. The members of these groups can not live on their art. At present, there is no space of production in the Gabun. To has present, Occidental contemporary art has widely beneficie of the African tradition, but there was, in return , no contemporary search in Africa. The Africa association in Creation, fruit of the meetings Paris of January, 1990, has the initiative of the ministere of Cooperation Francaise, pilots a program intend has to promote the Creation choregraphique in Africa.
-------------- The Estuary --------------- The province of the Estuary etend on 20 740 km2 and presente the strongest densite of population of the Gabun. Libreville, with pres of 420 000 inhabitants, regroups the 92 % of the population of the Estuary.
The coast, which etend of the frontiere equato-guineenne has Pongara's point, is shape of rias tres decoupees. It is about the estuary of Mouni in the region of Cocobeach, the bay(berry) of Mondah and estuary of Komo. Quotation presente attractive landscapes by their diversite: rocky spaces, sandy beaches at end and mangrove swamp. The Point Pongara or Clocks(points,sticks) Denis is the unique(only) earth(ground) of volcanic origin of the Gabun. According to the historians, the first inhabitants known with the Estuary are Ndiwa and Mpongwe. These last ones belong to the group of Omyene, appeles so because they commencaient always their speeches by words Myene, which mean " I say that ". The Estuary, grace has its maritime opening and has its bays(berries) hospitalieres, has tres fast attract(entice) the sailors come from the other horizons and the populations of the interieur of the country. Following Mpongwe, Seki, Kele, Benga and finally Fang, invested(surrounded) places. They entrerent in connection with the Portuguese navigators, then with the Dutch, the English and Francais, with which they maintained business connections.
---------------------- Haut-Ogooue ----------------------- Of a surface of 40 000 Km2, province of Haut-Ogooue is frontaliere from Congo has is him(her,it) and in the South. The vast trays of the country bateke are the tourist charm of the region. Circuses, vallees, lakes forms by the subterranean waters punctuate landscape.
The region is traversee by Ogooue and of multiple rivieres of which classes(courses) irreguliers presentent of tres beautiful falls. Site of contrast enters vallees, bits and savannas, the province enjoys good communications with the bordering regions: southward trays Bateke and Congo, towards the northeast the zone forestiere of Okondja, westward the region miniere of Mounana and Moanda. Beneficiant of vallees favorable to echanges, of convenient reliefs has the defense and of a climate agreable, this region has tres tot draw the attention of the explorers. Savorgnan of Brazza and the Doctor Ballay traverserent Haut-Ogooue for the premiere time in 1877. They there trouverent an agricultural region developpee, and were emerveilles by the ingeniosite of the builders of bridges of lianas " so corresponding has the art of the ingenieur ". The populations of origin Obamba and Teke are former(old) and maintained tres tot commercial activites with the close populations. Of 1897 has 1923, Societe Commerciale Industrielle and Agricultural of Haut-Ogooue ( S.H.O) has ete the main agent of penetration of the economie of draft in the interieur of the Gabun. She(it) has represente the premiere form of distribution, in 1925 , for the necessities of the construction site Congo-Ocean, Haut-Ogooue has ete connect has the region of Means - Congo. It is in 1946 that Haut-Ogooue is has new Gabonese. It becomes a pole of attraction for the economie of the country grace has his wealth minieres, the manganese has Moanda and the uranium has Mounana, to whom(which) add agricultural resources.
------------------------- Moyen-Ogooue -------------------------- Situees has the West of the Gabun, the regions of the delta of Ogooue and lakes to has Lambarene forms a vast plain belonging to the pond sedimentaire cotier which goes from the North of Libreville has the Congolese frontiere.
Tempestuous Ogooue becomes navigable among Ndjole and Port(bearing) - gentile by way of Lambarene, before throwing(casting) itself into the ocean. It(he) goes away of meme for Ngounie which joins Ogooue upstream to Lambarene. Boats and barges to has 300 tons can there navigate. Hour is frequent to cross them on the river, transporting grapes of hard wood and passengers, often load(charge) with baskets filled(performed) with provisions destinees in walking port(bearing) - gentile. One sees also big rafts of okoume and of ozigo pull(fire) by powerful tug boats. The navigators who frequentaient quotations since the end of the XV ° siecle have penetre no region, at least no recit has it revele existence. The space is house almost unknown Occidentals until 1819, when T.E. Bowdich publishes " Journeys in the country of Aschantie ". It(he) decrit the ethnic set(group) which forms the linguistic group Myene. americains Walker and Preston in 1854 organizes the remontee of Ogooue, follow-ups by the explorer of Chaillu. However, it is only has to leave expeditions of Marine francaise which has ete raise(draw up) the first releves cartographic of Ogooue. Lambarene was a centre of business controle by the kings Nkombe and Ranoke, sovereigns of the sorting drank galoa and Enanga who populate the big ile of Ogooue. In this moitie of siecle, the draft of the slaves was intense and profitable for the populations cotieres which maintained their monopoly in empechant communication between etrangers and tribes of the interieur. In 1867, one draft of peace, of amitie and business is sign between France and king Ranoke, then in 1873 with the king galoa Nkombe. And so counters were etablis along the river. Robert Bruce Walker, pere of the abbe, opened the premiere factorerie Hatton and Cookson on the site of the current hopital Schweitzer, missions chretiennes followed movement has to leave of 1880. Today, Lambarene lives(remains) an administrative centre and economique active grace has his(her) communications routieres and river. The populations of Moyen-Ogooue are a belonging ethnic veritable mosaique has four of seven linguistic groups of the country: Myene, Fang, Okande and Merie.
--------------- Ngounie ---------------- Nee has the south extreme of the country, Ngounie, big tributary of Ogooue, sprays the big plain forestiere which separe the crystalline massif of Chaillu of mountains lkoundou. The environment, on the banks, is one of the most former(ancient) of the Gabun. In this province of a surface of 37 750 km2, the population Eshira, Pindji, Pounou, Tsogho and Vili arrivees by waves of successive migrations, live in good terms. The traditional social and religious organization is always presente in the daily life, especially the cults of Bwiti and Ndjembe (societe secrete feminine). Abrupt(steep) massifs, plains, bits epaisses, savannas, rivieres and lakes, cliffs, deep and vast caves agricultural zones modelent landscape parseme of hamlets and villages. In the last siecle, in decembre on 1858, the explorer of Chaillu reaches by Ngounie, has Fougamou's height. It(he) there decouvre differentes populations local residents that it(he) decrit during the second journey. Afterward, Mandji , Sindara's catholic missions and Martinmas have ete fondees. The guest will know apprecier the beaute and the authenticite of this province until then a little oubliee.
-------------- Nyanga --------------- The savanna arbustive modele the landscape of the vallee of Nyanga in the southwest of the country. Situee between the chaine of Mayumba and the mountains lkundu, the region is traversee by rivieres Nyanga and Moukalaba for impressive falls. The ground is fertile. A beautiful palm plantation grows naturally in the neighborhood of Moabi. In these plains, are cultivate rice, manioc, taro, banana...
An elevage of cattle is install(settle) in the ranch of Sogadel has proximite of the frontiere of Congo. The basement contains of numerous reserves minieres, among others some iron has Milingi, of some copper, the gold, the diamond, the barytine, the sulfur... The carrieres of talc of Doussala and marble along the riviere Dousse Oussou, among Mayumba and Tchibanga, supplied maid's materiaux qualite. They are at present fermees. In the region Ndindi, a deposit of petrole has ete decouvert. In these wealth add the exploitation of the wood and the peche in riviere, lagoon and sea. The initiatory rite of Bwiti and its variants hold an important place in the region.
---------------------- Ogooue-Ivindo ----------------------- Places in the northeast of the Gabun, Ogooue-lvindo is the Gabonese province most etendue of the country (46 075 Km2). She(it) presente on the other hand the weakest densite human, 48 862 inhabitants, or only an inhabitant in Km2.
The dominant ethnic group is kota. Crossbars by Ogooue, lvindo and their multiple tributaries, the landscapes, of a wild beaute and mysterieuse, meritent the detour. The region possede of the reserves of iron ore situees has Belinga and Boka Boka. Exploitation had ete confiee has Societe of Mekambo ( SOMIFER's ) iron mines has to leave of 1959. But the deterioration of walking world of some steel on one hand and the lack of means of transportation of the ore on the other hand, do not allow any more a profitable exploitation of this deposit. The volume of the cultures of cafe and of cocoa does not stop of decroitre, has the continuation(suite) of the decline of the world class(course). A FIDA project aims to revitalize the agricultural activite of the zone which beneficie of fertile lands.
----------------- Ogooue-Lolo ------------------ Traversee by Ogooue and his(its,her) tributary Milk, the region is bordee in the South by the mountain massif of Chaillu. The pond of Ogooue-Lolo is shape of granite, schist and of gres. Bit covers a big part of the province and attracts(entices) the companies forestieres for its numerous tres wooden essences of which, well on, the okoume.
For a long time repliee on her(it) - meme because of the natural insulation (dense bit and few communications), Ogooue-Lolo opened few has few in influences etrangeres, not without rebel periodiques. It is Brazza's Savorgnan who reached(affected) the first Doume's falls, by making road on Franceville in June, 1877. It(he) began a troisieme expedition, in 1883 , with Lastours's ingenieur francais Rigail (to see " Lastoursville "). This presence francaise remained however with a lot(many) of difficultes. Several revoltes entrainerent the desolation of the post by autorites. Bitter the reinstallation of the administration in 1909, whom cree the region of Adouma, there was still the other revoltes. In 1936, Ogooue-Lolo obtained its autonomy departementale under the name of departement from Adouma with for administrative centre Lastoursville. At present, the province counts 44 000 inhabitants, Koulamoutou is the leader of it place, Lastoursville, under - prefecture.
-------------------------- Ogooue-Maritime --------------------------- The history of Ogooue-Maritime is confidentially liee has that of the peoples of the southwest of the Gabun. The quotations of the southwest of the Gabun are known for Occidental navigators and notably for Portugueses since the end of the XV-th siecle. For them, according to the former(old) cards, this territory was divided into two realms: him(it,her) Was on drugs and Loango. The first etendait in the North between caps Lopez and Sainte-Catherine and was a people of Was on drugs or Nkomi who practised the draft and maintained returns of expenses with negriers and pirates notably has the mouth of Rio Fernan Vaz. The second in the South, followed has that of Was on drugs since the cap Sainte-Catherine up to Congo, fl contained the provinces of Gobbi, Sette and Mayumba. It(he) got organized around lagoons Ngove ( Iguela), Sette-Cama ( Ndogo), Mbanio and was live by Lumbou. The business made by ethnic relay enter the Cap Lopez and Mayumba. One exported the ivory, the red wood of Gobbi and Sette. It is has to leave of the debut of the XVII that the draft negriere is developpee on Ogooue and Rembo Nkomi. Until the environment(middle) of the XIX-th, the cothird peoples, enter the Cap Lopez and Mayumba are badly known. The only harbour accessible(approachable) to the navigators was Loango, places in the most close creek in the South of Mayumba. In 1873-76, a German expedition goes back up(raises) the class(course) of Nyanga to has Tchibanga and decrit for the premiere time Lumbou and Bayaka. From 1886, catholic missions settle down on this territory: Loango ( 1884 ), Sainte-Anne of Fernan Vaz ( 1887 ) and Sette-Cama ( 1890 ). Ogooue-Maritime covers a surface of 22 890 km2. Port-GentilI is the administrative centre of this province partially enclavee, of which some localites are accessible(approachable) only by way aerienne and maritime. At present, the resources are liees has search and has exploitation petroliere and forestiere. With several activites, tourism aims has developper: peche sportswoman in sea, rivieres and lagoons, safari vision, ecotourisme. The reserves of fauna of petit Loango, plain Ouanga and three domains Iguela, Ngove-Ndogo and Sette-Cama of a surface of 700 000 ha, establish(constitute) " areas protegees of Gamba ". The forested domain and the savanna are forms of circles vegetaux diversify has the extreme. The interieur of Ogooue-Maritime, few populates and difficult of acces, possede a rich fauna of numerous especes: chimpanzes, hippopotamuses, cephalophes, antelopes, potamocheres, pangolins, crocodiles, varanuses, manatees, tortoises - lutes. Lagoons are for birds (tisserins, ibis tantales, martins-pecheurs, knights, storks, pelicans, eagles) Sites privilegies which they glance through ceaselessly there quete of food. ---------------------- Woleu-Ntem ---------------------- Inhabitant of the border zone with Guinee Equatoriale and Cameroon, Woleu-Ntem is the deuxieme province of the Gabun. His(her) 97 739 inhabitants are of origin Fang for the greater part.
Administration francaise crea the region of Woleu-Ntem in 1907, more than twenty years apres that the North - Gabun has ete recognized as belonging has France. Limit between Cameroon and Gabun stayed several annees a subject of discord between German trading companies and francaises. In 1908, apres enquete on the situation reelle, the frontiere of the North is redefinie, identical has that current, with Ntem for repere. Malgre it, Francais not etant not enough representes, Woleu-Ntem could etre considere as a German "colony" of the point of view economique. The Moroccan crisis of 1911 ended in an agreement which attributed(awarded) the province to the Germans. Bitter the defaite of the German troops among Oyem and Mitzic in 1914, the general Aymerich reoccupait the province and restored her(it) has Africa Equatoriale francaise in 1916, apres the achevement of the conquete of Cameroon. Introduced by the Germans, the cocoa was for a long time the premiere culture of pension of this province. Every inhabitant of Woleu-Ntem, or almost, possede even nowadays the cocoa plantation. One finds it everywhere, it(he) is enough of penetrer derriere the curtains of trees has the inextricable appearance. Today, Woleu-Ntem developpe economiquement grace has the heveaculture and has the creation of uses(jobs) that this activite genere. Furthermore, the asphalting of roads favors communications and commercial echanges between Cameroon and Gabun.