Beembe tribe (Kongo)

The Beembe (also Bembe, Babembe, Babeembe) are a Bantu people living in southern Congo-Brazzaville, precisely in Bouenza and in the cities of Brazzaville, Dolisie, and Pointe-Noire. It is a Kongo subgroup. The Beembe have some similar customs to the Kongo, which is what makes them a subgroup, but their art is what separates them apart. It is not clear when the Beembe separated from the Kongo but oral tradition suggests that it was some time around the eight century. They migrated Northeast from the Kongo and settled some five hundred kilometers from the capital of the Kingdom of the Kongo.^[2]: 58 This group was a part of the Kongo Kingdom during its height of power. The Beembe also have subgroups within it such as the Bisi-Nseke, Minkegue, Mmsumbu (Bambumbu), the Mongo, and the Musitu.^[2]: 60Beembe society is economically based on agriculture.

This area, the Congo, was colonized by the French, also called the French Congo. The Beembe culture was not discovered and classified until the later part of colonization, and their artwork was not attributed to them until later. Their artwork was still shown throughout Europe, specifically France, where it was labeled as Sibiti. This was a term used for all sculpture of the region. It was used as an umbrella term for those who did not want to try and figure out what group the piece came from.^[2]: 58