Poonu

The area of ​​residence of the ethnic group under consideration is the southern part of the Gabonese Republic , as well as the adjacent territories of the Republic of the Congo . The total population of the Punu people group, according to data for the 1990s, was approximately 330 thousand. In Gabon, 250 thousand people and in the Congo 80 thousand.

The languages ​​used are Sira Pune.

Most representatives adhere to traditional beliefs, but there are also Christians (Catholics, Protestants). On the territory of the Pune compact residence, tribal relations with a neighbor or tribal community, as well as patriarchal relations and patrilinealness (an account of the origin of kinship and inheritance from the paternal line in the paternal gender, inheritance of the father's name) are preserved; patrilocal marriage, in which the wife enters the community (house) of her husband.

Representatives of the Punu group live in villages located in proximity to rivers or major roads. For the construction of houses, palm leaves, grass, tree branches and reeds are most often used. The dwelling was a rectangular house with wicker walls, with high gable roofs. The daily diet of Pune includes fried vegetables and fruits that are common in areas where people live, such as fried bananas, fish (in places suitable for fishing).

Activities

The main activities of Pune:

1. tropical hand farming. Crops include: yams , manioc , taro, sweet potatoes , rice (in some areas), as well as peanuts, Shrovetide; vegetables; fruits (bananas, citrus);
2. seasonal work on the plantations of coffee, cocoa and forestry;
3. fishing (in the riverside and coastal areas);
4. artistic and traditional crafts, such as: wood carving, pottery, weaving mats, painting.

• Andrianov B. V. Poonu // Peoples and Religions of the World / Chapters. ed. V.A. Tishkov . - M .: Great Russian Encyclopedia, 1999. - P.429
• Punu is an article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia .

• The art of the Poonu Mirimanov VB The art of tropical Africa.