Bantu Collection

A Himba woman in traditional attire. Her body gleams from a mixture of red ochre, butterfat and herbs. Her long hair is styled in the traditional Himba way

EXPL2A-00366
Map of equatorial Africa as known in the 1870s. Printed color lithograph, 19th century

Meru Women - Kenya
circa 1910s

Himba women perform the otjiunda dance, stamping their feet, clapping and chanting while one of them gyrates in the centre of the circle

The Drums of Africa - in the Village of Ikoko on Lake Ntomba in Belgian Congo, c1930s. Lake Tumba in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is inhabited by the Mongo people

Tanzania - Three Nyamwezi Men - a Bantu tribal group - the 2nd largest in Tanzania. Date: circa 1909

Member of the Meru Tribe - Kenya, East Africa
Memeber of the Meru Tribe - Kenya, East Africa. Both men and women of this region stretch their ears, although today more women than men follow the practice

A Basotho woman making mats - South Africa. Date: circa 1930s

Africa. The Congo. Bangala indigenous
History of Africa. 19th century. The Congo. Bangala indigenous. Engraving. El Congo y la Creacion del Estado Independiente de este nombre

History of Africa. Native Bondei people of Bonde
History of Africa. 19th century. Native Bondei people of Bonde. Engraving. El Congo y la Creacion del Estado Independiente de este nombre

Africa. Congo. Man of the Bateke tribe (High Alima)
History of Africa. 19th century. Man from the Bateke tribe (upper course of the Alima River). Engraving. El Congo y la Creacion del Estado Independiente de este nombre

Helmet mask (kifwebe), late 19th to early 20th century (wood & paint)
1068189 Helmet mask (kifwebe), late 19th to early 20th century (wood & paint) by African School; 60.3x34.3x29.2 cm; Dallas Museum of Art, Texas, USA; (add.info.: Made by the Songye)

Market scene in Kikuyu, from MacMillan school posters, c. 1950-60s (litho)
3709107 Market scene in Kikuyu, from MacMillan school posters, c.1950-60s (litho) by Macfarlane, J. (active 1940-1949); Private Collection; (add.info)

Swahili woman (gelatin silver print)
622765 Swahili woman (gelatin silver print) by Pereira, R. V. (fl. early 1900s); 20.7x15.2 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

Swahili woman (gelatin silver print)
622766 Swahili woman (gelatin silver print) by Pereira, R. V. (fl. early 1900s); 20.5x15.7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Swahili people are a Bantu ethnic group from East Africa)

Nguni or Bantu (Kaffir) warrior hunting antelope with spears 55, forsaking a woman drowning in a river 56
6337777 Nguni or Bantu (Kaffir) warrior hunting antelope with spears 55, forsaking a woman drowning in a river 56, and worshipping an anchor from an East India ship 57 by English School

Views of South Africa, 1820
View of Griquatown, Northern Cape, 52, Khoikhoi visiting their family graves 53, and a Khoikhoi preacher preaching in front of a wagon 54. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Rev

The Wreck of the Grosvenor, 1783 (oil on canvas)
3870574 The Wreck of the Grosvenor, 1783 (oil on canvas) by Smirke, Robert (1752-1845); Private Collection; (add.info.: Courtesy of Captain A R Coxon, RN (Retd)

Bantu musicians with gourd piano, Central Africa
Two Bantu musicians playing a gourd piano looking rather like a curved xylophone, Central Africa. Date: 1922

Various forms of spears (litho)
6013457 Various forms of spears (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Various forms of spears)

The Battle of The Gwanga, Cape of Good Hope, on 8th June 1846 (colour aquatint)
NAM195660 The Battle of The Gwanga, Cape of Good Hope, on 8th June 1846 (colour aquatint) by Carey, Captain (fl.1846) (after); National Army Museum, London; eNational Army Museum; English

Busoga, Uganda - Heathen Shrine and Medicine Man who specialised in rainmaking.. Date: 1913

Bambute Pygmy group with two Walese women, 1902. From The Living Races of Mankind, Vol. I. [Hutchinson & Co, London, 1902]

Fight Between the Galekas and the Fingoes at Butterworth River, Oct, 4, 1877, c1880. Episode of the Xhosa Wars (also known as the Cape Frontier Wars, Kaffir Wars), from 1779 to 1879 in South Africa

A Himba youth with his hair styled in a long plait, known as ondatu. Once married, he will split the ondatu into two plaits and keep them covered

Two happy Himba girls ride a donkey to market. Their bodies gleam from a mixture of red ochre, butterfat and herbs. Their long hair is styled in the traditional Himba way

A Himba woman milks a cow in the stock enclosure close to her home. Traditional milk containers made from hollowed wood are preferred to their modern equivalents

African Native People, lithograph, published in 1897
African Native People: 1 - 2) Mpongwe people from Gabun; 3) Arab from Morocco; 4) Arab from the southern Tunisia; 5) Fellah; 6 - 7) Copts; 8) Koto from Niger; 9) Fang people; 10) Berber (Dachelaner)

Man of the Kikuyu tribe - Kenya, East Africa Date: 1934

Kikuyu Warriors - Kenya, East Africa
Kikuyu tribal Warriors - Kenya, East Africa. They form the largest ethnic group in Kenya and speak the Bantu Kikuyu language as a mother tongue. Date: circa 1909

An old Himba woman, upright despite her years, rides her donkey through harsh land where mid-day temperatures rise to 400C. Her body gleams from a mixture of red ochre, butterfat and herbs

A Young man of the Kenyan Kikuyu Tribe, East Africa. They form the largest ethnic group in Kenya and speak the Bantu Kikuyu language as a mother tongue. Date: circa 1910s

Kikuyu Hut - Kenya Date: 1920s

Swahili People of Tanzania
Group of Swahili people - a Bantu ethnic group and culture found in East Africa. This group come from Tanzania (formerly German East Africa). Date: circa 1910s

Gabon - Africa - Woman with Scarification
A Woman from Sibiti, Gabon - part of the Bakota (or Kota) - a Bantu ethnic group from the northeastern region of the country

Kaffir Kraal
A Kaffir kraal : the term Kaffir is used somewhat indiscriminately of South African natives, but these are probably Bantu-speaking people of Cape Province

Illustration of thatched Bantu hut, Southern Africa

Tswana Man Holiding an Ostrich Feather Fan in a Landscape, c
XYC262880 Tswana Man Holiding an Ostrich Feather Fan in a Landscape, c.1802 (graphite & wash on paper) by Daniell, Samuel (1775-1811); 22.5x14.9 cm; Yale Center for British Art

South Africa - Sotho Boys play cards for arm bangles. The Sotho people (Basotho or Basuto) are a Bantu ethnic group whose ancestors have lived in southern Africa since around the fifth century

Man and Woman from the land of Natal. These people are likely Xhosa - speakers of Bantu languages living in south-east South Africa. A book of national types and costumes from the early 19th century

Racial / W Africa / Bantu
Group of Kalundas (Bantu peoples)

Racial / African Types 19C
Various African types, including Ashanti, Loango, Cameroon, Bantu, Somali, Abyssinian, Madagascan, Zulu, Masai, Waganda, Bush couple, Namaqua, Nyam-Nyam, Dinka

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

"Bantu: A Glimpse into the Rich Cultural Tapestry of Africa" Step into the vibrant world of Bantu, a diverse group of indigenous people spread across various regions in West and Central Africa. From Gabon to Congo, from Kenya to Tanzania, these communities have contributed immensely to the history and heritage of the African continent. In this captivating image, we see a Himba woman adorned in traditional attire. Her body gleams with a mixture of red ochre, symbolizing her connection to nature and ancestral spirits. The Himba people are known for their distinct customs and beliefs that have been passed down through generations. Moving further westward, we encounter the Bangala indigenous tribe from Congo. Their presence signifies the rich cultural diversity found within Africa's vast landscapes. Similarly, we come across the Bondei people who have left an indelible mark on East Africa's history. The Bateke tribe stands tall in their unique traditions as well. This Congolese community showcases their identity through intricate rituals and ceremonies that celebrate life's milestones. Traveling southwards to Kenya, we witness Meru women proudly displaying their cultural heritage. With colorful garments and striking jewelry adorning them, they represent resilience and strength within their society. Delving deeper into history, an antique lithograph takes us back to 1897 when African native people were documented by explorers keen on capturing glimpses of untouched cultures. One cannot ignore the rhythmic beats resonating from villages like Ikoko on Lake Ntomba in Belgian Congo during drumming sessions - a testament to how music unites communities across borders and time periods. Tanzania introduces us to three Nyamwezi men whose dignified expressions reflect pride in their roots while embodying gracefulness amidst adversity. Lastly, a member of Kenya's Meru Tribe reminds us that despite modernization sweeping over Africa today; there is still immense value placed upon preserving age-old traditions and customs.