 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.