In the following series of articles – called the Bantu series – we are going to challenge the common theory of Bantu expansion.

The Bantu expansion theory states that current Bantu populations inhabiting Central, Eastern and Southern Africa originate from Mount Cameroon area (near the Nigeria/Cameroon border) and have spread through a series of migrations starting around 4000-3000 BCE to populate most of Subequatorial Africa.

The question of Bantu expansion is fundamental to understand the history of Africa and the history of Kitara in particular, as most of the Great Lakes region is inhabited by Bantu speakers. Understanding Bantu people history is thus a prerequisite to understand Kitara history.

This series of articles will present a list of arguments adressing many open historical questions opened by the Bantu theory and which are, today, still unsolved. The final article will present an alternative theory to Bantu expansion, which is – in the opinion of the author – closer to the historical reality and allow a better understanding of ancient African history.

Summary of the series :

Introduction : the Bantu expansion theory

1 – How did the Bantu pass the Equatorial forest barrier ?

2 – Why do Pygmy speak Bantu language and where is their original language ?

3 – Why no Bantu languages north of the Equatorial forest ?

4 – Why most archaic Bantu languages are in southeastern Democratic Congo and Zambia ?

5 – Why no geat migration story among most of Bantu people ?

6 – Why no isolate languages in most of Bantu area ?

7 – How did Bantu dominate other important groups such as Nilotes, Cushites… ?

8 – Why no clear genetic proof of Bantu theory ?

9 – Who is responsible for the ancient prehistoric cultures in the Bantu area ?

10 – Who were the “pre-bantu” populations inhabiting the Bantu area and where are they now ?

11 – Conclusion : A proposal of new theory

Through these different chapters, we will try to demonstrate that many aspects of the Bantu expansion theory should be questionned, and an alternative view on Bantu people could be considered.

In the next article which will start this series, we will present the Bantu expansion theory.