African Food and Art

This blog explores the wisdom of African proverbs, the depth of folklore, the beauty of art, the stories of history, and the flavors of timeless African food recipes.

List of Largest Ethnic Groups in Africa

List of the largest ethnic group in each African Country.


An ethnic group is a category of people who belonging to or deriving from the cultural, religious, or linguistic traditions of a people or country. People who identify with each other based on similarities, such as common ancestral, language, social, and cultural experiences.

Race is associated with biology, whereas ethnicity is associated with culture.
Learning at a refugee camp in East Africa

Some believe belonging to an ethnic group does not come from individual choice but others impose ethnicity. Race is associated with biology, whereas ethnicity is associated with culture. Therefore, an ethnic group is a subjective category based on personal feelings, tastes, or opinions of others. 

Largest Ethnic Groups in every African Country

2006-2016 CIA census reports

African Country
Largest Ethnic Group
Algeria
Arab-Berber 99%
Angola
Ovimbundu 37%
Benin
Fon and related 38.4%
Botswana
Setswana 79%
Burkina Faso
Mossi 52.5%
Burundi
Hutu 85%
Cameroon
Cameroon Highlanders 31%
Cabo Verde
Creole mulatto 71%
Central African Republic
Baya 33%
Chad
Sara 25.9%
Comoros
Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava (Comoros’ population is a mixture of Arabs, Persians, Indonesians, Africans, and Indians)
The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population
Republic of the Congo
Kongo 48%
Cote d'Ivoire
Akan 32.1%
Djibouti
Somali 60%
Egypt
Egyptian 99.6%
Equatorial Guinea
Fang 85.7%
Eritrea
Tigrinya 55%
Ethiopia
Oromo 34.4%
Gabon
Fang 32%
The Gambia
Mandinka/Jahanka 33.8%
Ghana
Akan 47.5%
Guinea
Fulani (Peul) 33.9%
Guinea-Bissau
Fulani 28.5%
Kenya
Kikuyu 22%
Lesotho
Sotho 99.7%
Liberia
Kpelle 20.3%
Libya
Berber and Arab 97%
Madagascar
Merina 26%
Malawi
Chewa 32.6%
Mali
Bambara 34.1%
Mauritania
Black Moors 40%
Mauritius
Creole 86.5%
Morocco
Arab-Berber 99%
Mozambique
Ethnic groups are not broken down in percentages however, the country is 99.66% African. The main ethnic groups in Mozambique are Makhuwa, Tsonga, Makonde, Shangaan, Shona, Sena, Ndau, and other indigenous groups.
Namibia
Ovambo 50%
Niger
Hausa 53.1%
Nigeria
Hausa and Fulani 29%
Rwanda
Hutu 84%
Sao Tome and Principe
Mestico or mixed-blood, descendants of Portuguese colonists and African slaves figures vary from 33%-68%
Senegal
Wolof 38.7%
Seychelles
Mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab. Seychelles has no indigenous population and was first permanently settled by a small group of French planters, African slaves, and South Indians in 1770.
Sierra Leone
Temne 35%
Somalia
Somali 85%
South Africa
Zulu 21 %
South Sudan
Dinka 35.8%
Sudan
Sudanese Arab 70%
Swaziland (renamed the country eSwatini in April 2018)
Swazi 84.3%
Tanzania
Bantu 95%
Togo
Ewe figures vary from 21%-32%
Tunisia
Arab 98%
Uganda
Baganda 16.5%
Zambia
Bemba 21%
Zimbabwe
Shona 82%


Some believe belonging to an ethnic group does not come from individual choice but others impose ethnicity.

Did you know?
Throughout the world, ethnicity is used as a social measure of differences between groups of people.

Week’s Best African Culture Posts

What is the difference between ugali and fufu

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How to make the popular African recipes Ugali and Fufu and what is the difference.  Ugali is a starch dish in Kenya and Tanzania made of fine cornmeal cooked in boiling water into a soft dough. Fufu is a thick, dough-like West African food made by boiling then pounding a starchy vegetable such as yam, plantain, or cassava or a mixture of starchy vegetables. The main difference between fufu and ugali is fufu is boiled first then pounded while ugali is simply boiled. Ugali recipe. Easy Ugali Recipe Prep time 5 minutes Cook time 30 minutes Total time 30 minutes Ingredients 4 cups finely ground cornmeal 8 cups water Directions Heat water to boiling in a saucepan. Slowly pour cornmeal into boiling water stirring continuously. Add more cornmeal if necessary until it is thick as soft bread dough. Serve immediately with vegetables, stew, or any dish you would use a spoon with to soak up the sauce, ugali is purposely bland tasting on its own. What is the difference between ugali ...
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Camel Caravans Created the Internet

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Thanks to camel caravans facilitating trade and cultural exchange across Northern Africa, they laid the foundation for global connectivity, which eventually evolved into the internet driven world we know today.  Raising camels When business partners in Northern Africa started using camels, it changed how goods were traded. Before the domestication of camels, it was hard to cross much less carry things across the hot, dry desert. Camels could travel long distances without needing much water, so they made it easier to move valuable items like gold, salt, and cloth from one end of the African deserts to the other. Camel caravans helped people get things they could not find in their own neighborhoods and allowed them to trade to more people. Camels were kind of like how the internet and technology connect us today. Why were camels chosen for caravans across Africa?  Camels were less prone to diseases common in tropical regions, increasing their longevity and utility. Horses and do...
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Disaster That Shook Mayotte to Its Core

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Category 4 hurricane, 136 MPH Cyclone Chido destroyed the French Island of Mayotte. The island of Mayotte is a tiny, 144 square mile  French territory in the Indian Ocean reeling from a direct hit from Cyclone Chido, the strongest storm to hit the island in 90 years. Entire neighborhoods have disappeared, along with entire families. Mayotte is rhe poorest overseas territory of France, many accusations point to the debate that it is a forgotten holding place for undocumented refugees. Half the residence live in makeshift houses out of discarded pieces of wood cardboard, and anything else residents can get their hands on. With winds exceeding 136 mph, equivalent to a category four hurricane, on Sunday December 15, 2024, Cyclone Chido caused major destruction causing upwards of 1,000 deaths leaving 80% of the population homeless.  Nearly 84% of residents were already living under the poverty level before Cyclone Chido hit the small island. The infrastructure was very weak on the ...
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Explaining Bones and Stones of Africa

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Why Africa is Connected to Bones and Stones Have you ever wondered why bones and stones seem so important in African spirituality? Bones and stones hold the power for many African people as a connection to the spiritual world for protection in the natural world and eternal universe. The Power of Bones Bones are like the keys to a family’s history reminding people of the ancestors, those who lived before us and passed down wisdom, traditions, and strength. When people think about bones, they don’t just see the physical, they believe the spirits of their ancestors might still be connected to the bones, offering advice and protection. In numerous African culture traditions, spiritual leaders use bones to tell what’s coming. They throw animal bones or shells and look at how they land. Each position tells a story or gives a clue about health, family, or life decisions. Bones hold up the body, right? Because of this, they are often seen as a symbol of strength and support, reminding people...
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