Collections Online | British Museum

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

Bantu

Also known as: Bantu
Scope note: Largest language group in Africa. Believed to have originated from the Congo. Found in South, East and Central Africa.
Broader terms: x83025; African Peoples
Narrower terms: Adyumba; Afusari; Ambo; Bafut; Baganda; Bahavu; Bamileke; Bangala; Bankundu; Bankutu; Banyankole; Bawongo; Bayanzi; Bayombe; Bemba; Bena; Beti; Bira; Boki; Boma; Bubi; Chagga; Chokwe; Copi; Digo; Duala; Ekoi; Ekonda; Embu; Fang; Gisu; Gusii; Hehe; Herero; Hutu; Ila; Jaba; Kalai; Kamba; Kikuyu; Komo; Koro; Kuria; Lega; Lemba; Lenje; Lozi; Luba; Luvale; Luyia; Mada; Maka; Makonde; Makua; Mama; Mambwe; Matengo; Mbole; Mbundu; Meru; Mijikenda; Mitsogo; Mongo; Ngombe; Ngonde; Ngoni; Nguni; Nguruimi; Ngwato; Nyakyusa; Nyamwezi; Nyole; Pende; Pokomo; Rimi; Rombo; Rukuba; Rundi; Shambala; Shona; Sotho; Suku; Sukuma; Tabwa; Taita; Taveta; Tetela; Tikar; Tiv; Topoke; Tsonga; Tumbuka; Tutsi; Venda; Wakedi; Wanga; Zanaki

120 related objects

armlet

Museum number: Af1952,07.296 |
Production place: Made in:Kenya |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kenya

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.118 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.115 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.113 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.132 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.109 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.141 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.134 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.144 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.116 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.120 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.129 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.138 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.128 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.131 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.133 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.119 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.122 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.123 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.147 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.117 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.143 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.136 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.140 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.127 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.108 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.137 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.121 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.126 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.139 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.125 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.112 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.104 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.111 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.124 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.114 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.130 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.142 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.110 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.145 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.135 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.107 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

arrow

Museum number: Af1947,16.146 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Luo |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Nyanza Province

axe

Museum number: Af1954,+23.2817 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Africa

axe

Museum number: Af1954,+23.2818 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Africa

axe

Museum number: Af1954,+23.2811 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

belt

Museum number: Af1959,18.1 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

bowl

Museum number: Af1944,04.260 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Africa

broom

Museum number: Af1954,+23.3055 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

club

Museum number: Af1954,+23.68 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Africa

club; staff

Museum number: Af1954,+23.52 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

club

Museum number: Af1954,+23.56 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South AfricaFound/Acquired:Africa

club; staff

Museum number: Af1954,+23.53 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

club

Museum number: Af1954,+23.69 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Production date: 19thC(late)-20thC(early) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Africa

club

Museum number: Af1954,+23.66 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:ZambiaFound/Acquired:Zimbabwe

club

Museum number: Af1954,+23.54 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

comb

Museum number: Af1954,+23.423 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

container; stopper

Museum number: Af1960,12.3.a-b |
Ethnic group: Made by:ZuluMade by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

cup

Museum number: Af1954,+23.3115 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Uganda

dress; ornament

Museum number: Af1954,+23.2232 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Africa

figure

Museum number: Af1944,04.253 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Zulu |
Production place: Made in:Angola |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:KwaZulu-Natal

figure

Museum number: Af1954,+23.3551 |
Ethnic group: Made by:TsongaMade by:Zulu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South AfricaFound/Acquired:Africa

figure

Museum number: Af1954,+23.3552 |
Ethnic group: Made by:TsongaMade by:Zulu |
Production date: 20thC(early) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

flask; stopper

Museum number: Af1928,0712.19.a-b |
Production date: 19thC(late)-20thC(early) |
Production place: Made in:Kenya |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kenya

hair-pin

Museum number: Af1954,+23.2229.a-b |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South AfricaFound/Acquired:Africa

hat

Museum number: Af1954,+23.3248 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

head-rest

Museum number: Af1944,04.254 |
Ethnic group: Made by:ZuluMade by:Bantu |
Production date: 19thC |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:KwaZulu-NatalFound/Acquired:Democratic Republic of Congo

head-rest

Museum number: Af1944,04.257 |
Ethnic group: Made by:BantuMade by:Zulu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

head-rest

Museum number: Af1954,+23.1761 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Production date: 20thC (early) |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Congo

head-rest

Museum number: Af1954,+23.1840 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:AfricaFound/Acquired:Rhodesia

ladle

Museum number: Af1954,+23.794 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South AfricaFound/Acquired:Africa

ladle

Museum number: Af1954,+23.809 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

ladle

Museum number: Af1954,+23.793 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South AfricaFound/Acquired:Africa

machete

Museum number: Af1979,15.15 |
Ethnic group: Made by:PygmyMade by:Yaka |
Production date: 1979 |
Production place: Made in:Cameroon

machete

Museum number: Af1979,15.16 |
Ethnic group: Made by:PygmyMade by:Yaka |
Production date: 1979 |
Production place: Made in:Cameroon

necklace; amulet

Museum number: Af,+.5141 |
Production date: 1891 |
Production place: Made in:Uganda

personal ornament

Museum number: Af1944,04.261.a-e |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

photographic print

Museum number: Af,A65.48 |
Producer name: BIOG133739 Photographed by:Mrs Cartwright |
Production date: 1925-1949 |
Production place: Made in:Democratic Republic of Congo

photographic print

Museum number: Af,B13.12 |
Production date: 1957 |
Production place: Made in:Malawi

photographic print

Museum number: Af,B13.13 |
Production date: 1957 |
Production place: Made in:Malawi

photographic print

Museum number: Af,B13.9 |
Production date: 1957 |
Production place: Made in:Malawi

photographic print

Museum number: Af,B13.11 |
Production date: 1957 |
Production place: Made in:Malawi

photographic print

Museum number: Af,B13.10 |
Production date: 1957 |
Production place: Made in:Malawi

pot; vessel

Museum number: Af1979,15.44 |
Ethnic group: Made by:PygmyMade by:Yaka |
Production date: 1979 |
Production place: Made in:Cameroon |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Bareko

pot; vessel

Museum number: Af1979,15.45 |
Ethnic group: Made by:PygmyMade by:Yaka |
Production date: 1979 |
Production place: Made in:Cameroon |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Bareko

smoking-pipe

Museum number: Af,Cd.38 |
Ethnic group: Made by:XhosaMade by:Bantu |
Production date: 19thC |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

smoking-pipe; pricker

Museum number: Af,Cd.33.a-b |
Ethnic group: Made by:XhosaMade by:Bantu |
Production date: 19thC |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

smoking-pipe

Museum number: Af1933,1204.28 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Production place: Made in:Africa

smoking-pipe

Museum number: Af,Cd.59 |
Ethnic group: Made by:XhosaMade by:Bantu |
Production date: 19thC |
Production place: Made in:South Africa |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

smoking-pipe

Museum number: Af,Cd.60 |
Ethnic group: Made by:XhosaMade by:Bantu |
Production date: 19thC |
Production place: Made in:South Africa |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

smoking-pipe

Museum number: Af1982,32.30 |
Production date: 1900-1925 |
Production place: Made in:Kenya

smoking-pipe

Museum number: Af,Cd.41 |
Ethnic group: Made by:XhosaMade by:Bantu |
Production date: 19thC |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

snuff-bottle

Museum number: Af1954,+23.598 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa

snuff-container

Museum number: Af1928,0712.11.a-b |
Production date: 20thC(early) |
Production place: Made in:Kenya |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Kenya

spear

Museum number: Af1954,+23.742 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Democratic Republic of CongoFound/Acquired:Africa

spear

Museum number: Af1979,15.20 |
Ethnic group: Made by:PygmyMade by:Yaka |
Production date: 1979 |
Production place: Made in:Cameroon

spear

Museum number: Af1979,15.19 |
Ethnic group: Made by:PygmyMade by:Yaka |
Production date: 1979 |
Production place: Made in:Cameroon

spear

Museum number: Af1979,15.18 |
Ethnic group: Made by:PygmyMade by:Yaka |
Production date: 1979 |
Production place: Made in:Cameroon

spear; harpoon

Museum number: Af1979,15.17 |
Ethnic group: Made by:PygmyMade by:Yaka |
Production date: 1979 |
Production place: Made in:Cameroon

spoon

Museum number: Af1954,+23.808 |
Ethnic group: x83221 Made by:Bantu |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:South Africa