Central Bantuid
Group Bantuid
- common
- occasional
- rare
Description
Bantuid variety, characterised by elongated features and strong dolichocephaly. Found especially in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, also Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Angola, South Africa, Madagascar, and adjacent countries. Entered the area as a result of the Bantu expansion some millennia ago. Typified by Tsonga and Tonga, also in Kunda, Mbundu, Vili, Venda, Nyungwe, and others. Rarer across Congo to Gabon and Cameroon.
Physical traits
Dark brown, sometimes black skin, usually kinky, sometimes peppercorn hair. (Rather) tall, brachyskelic, mesomorph. Dolichocephalic, chamae- orthocranic with narrower skull and wider nose than in other Bantuids. (Hyper-) platyrrhine nose, mouth large, lips rather full. Prognathy and receding chin more pronounced in women.
Literature
Sometimes included in South Bantuid (Eickstedt, 1934) or considered West Bantuid (Vogel, 1974). Corresponds to Dart's (1962) Tsong-Tonga type (Group A.) Others called it Kaf(f)rid (Bory; 1825; Baumann, 1952; Lundman, 1967; Baker, 1981), also called Zambesid / South Africanid (Chabeuf, 1959; Vallois, 1971).
