People & Culture

Who lives in Gabon, and the story that shaped it.

A short history

Gabon has always been cloaked in forest. The Mpongwe, Fang, Bantu, and other peoples built kingdoms and trading networks deep within one of Africa's most biodiverse regions. The forest held everything: trade routes, spiritual power, knowledge of plants, and the wealth that attracted slavers and later colonial powers. France reshaped Gabon into a colony built on extraction, but Gabon's independence in 1960 brought relative stability and oil wealth that other African nations envied. Today, Gabon remains a forest nation: over 80 percent is rainforest, a green barrier that has kept the world at arm's length and preserved the wild in ways that inspire and haunt. The forest is Gabon's identity and its future.

Culture & Tribes

Fang

Northern and central Gabon

Agricultural farmers; strong cultural identity. Central to Gabon's identity. Known for carving and traditional ceremonies.

Visitor etiquette: Welcoming; interest in traditional art appreciated. Photography by permission.

Myene (Orungu, Mpongwe, etc.)

Coastal regions and estuaries

Maritime traders historically; fishing and coastal heritage. Strong connection to Libreville.

Visitor etiquette: Welcoming in coastal areas; interest in fishing culture appreciated.

Pygmy (Baka and Babinga)

Northern and interior rainforests

Hunter-gatherer heritage; deep forest knowledge. Historically marginalized.

Visitor etiquette: Ethical, community-led tourism only; exploitation is a concern. Use reputable guides.

Written by people from here

The short history above is a summary assembled from published sources. What follows was written by people with a direct connection to Gabon, in their own words, and reviewed before publication.

Nobody has written about Gabon here yet. If your family is from here, or you carry a history that the summaries keep flattening, this is the space for it.

Write the first piece

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