Tetela people

Tetela people
Cicatrised Tetela woman in Maniema, c.1905
Total population
750.000
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Tetela language
Related ethnic groups
Mongo, Kusu [de; fr] Anamongo

The indigenous people within the kasai basin up to Maniema understood themselves to be descendants of "AnKutshu Membele", then in the 20th century many accepted the imposed term Tetela (or Batetela in the plural). "Batetela" is now understood as an ethnic group of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, most of whom speak the Tetela language.