Gula People

Gula, also spelled Goula, is an ethnic group who lives in Central African Republic, Chad, and Sudan.[1] In the Central African Republic, they live in the northern regions of Vakaga, Bamingui-Bangoran, and Haute-Kotto.[2]

Gula
Total population
17,000
Regions with significant populations
 Central African Republic
 Chad
 Sudan
Languages
Gula, Arabic, French
Religion
Islam (majority)
Christianity (minority)

History

Gula people are believed to have originated from Blue Nile region in Ethiopia. Around 1750, they migrated to Darfur. In Darfur, the Gula people faced hostility from the Fur. Consequently, they migrated to an area near Lake Mamoun, Vakaga, in 1795.[3] Lake Mamoun was chosen because there was plenty of fish, and the area was uninhabited before they arrived.[4]

In the 19th century, Gula people were often attacked by slave raiders from Darfur, Dar al Kuti, and Kara. Moreover, they had to pay a tribute of 1,000 slaves, ivory, honey, and copper to Darfur.[3] Enslavement of Gula reached its peak in 1890-1911 when Dar al Kuti's ruler, Muhammad al-Sanussi, sent slave raiders to the Gula region to obtain slaves and pillage the villages. Hence, by 1905, Vakaga was depopulated and Gula fled to either N'Délé or Abéché. Gula only returned to Vakaga after France subjugated Dar al Kuti in 1911.[5]

In 1926–1927, France ordered Gula to live in settlements along the Ouanda Djalle-Birao Road for defensive purposes. They also recruited Gula men for the Congo–Ocean Railway project.[6][5] Some Gula refused to follow France's order and fled to Chad.[7] Around 1960, Gula converted from animism to Islam. Nevertheless, they still retained some pre-Islam practices.[8]

Groups

Gula is divided into two major groups and eight subgroups:[7]

Major GroupSub GroupVillages
Water PeopleMolo or Gula MamounNdolo Sere or Kididji, Vodomasa, Oulou, Mangafara, Jenzir, Sadjer, Ngede, and Boromata
MeleMélé
Moto MarGordil and Manu
SaraMaka, Ndiffa I, Kava Guludu (Ndifa), Ketebe, Kabala, Dem Ngonj and Lemena III
MereTiringoulou and Ouandjia
Mountain PeopleZura or KotoSergobo and Kumba
Woso
Mutu

Each sub-group has its dialect and Sara is the most distinct dialect.[7]

Social life

Gula is a patrilineal society. For marriage, Gula allows levirate marriage.[9] Polygamy is common practice among Gula people.[10]

Economic life

Gula people heavily rely on agriculture, hunting, and fishing for their livelihood. Millet, sorghum, and peanuts are the plants that the Gula people cultivate. They also made alcoholic beverages made from millet. Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park is the place where Gula does their hunting activities.[11]

Nowadays, Gula also involve in diamond mining activity in Bria.[12]

Notable people

References
  1. Nougayrol, Pierre (1999). Les parlers gula: Centrafrique, Soudan, Tchad : grammaire et lexique. CNRS.
  2. Ndeke Luka, Ndeke Luka. "Centrafrique: les communautés Goula et Rounga se réconcilient à Ndélé". radiondekeluka.org. Radio Ndeke Luka. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  3. UNICEF Mendiguren (September 2012). Etude anthropologique de l'organisation sociale et politique des communautés en Centrafrique et des organisations à assise communautaire (PDF) (Report). p. 402. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  4. Barber, Kenneth B. (1980). An ecological survey of the St. Floris National Park, Central African Republic (Thesis). Michigan State University. p. 3.
  5. Barber, Kenneth B. (1980). An ecological survey of the St. Floris National Park, Central African Republic (Thesis). Michigan State University. p. 4.
  6. UNICEF Mendiguren (September 2012). Etude anthropologique de l'organisation sociale et politique des communautés en Centrafrique et des organisations à assise communautaire (PDF) (Report). pp. 402–403. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  7. UNICEF Mendiguren (September 2012). Etude anthropologique de l'organisation sociale et politique des communautés en Centrafrique et des organisations à assise communautaire (PDF) (Report). p. 403. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  8. UNICEF Mendiguren (September 2012). Etude anthropologique de l'organisation sociale et politique des communautés en Centrafrique et des organisations à assise communautaire (PDF) (Report). p. 417. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  9. UNICEF Mendiguren (September 2012). Etude anthropologique de l'organisation sociale et politique des communautés en Centrafrique et des organisations à assise communautaire (PDF) (Report). p. 408. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  10. UNICEF Mendiguren (September 2012). Etude anthropologique de l'organisation sociale et politique des communautés en Centrafrique et des organisations à assise communautaire (PDF) (Report). p. 409. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  11. UNICEF Mendiguren (September 2012). Etude anthropologique de l'organisation sociale et politique des communautés en Centrafrique et des organisations à assise communautaire (PDF) (Report). p. 414. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  12. "Clashes in diamond hub shed light on C.Africa's ethnic tensions". rfi.fr. Radio France Internationale. AFP. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  13. Sayare, Scott. "Mystery Shrouds Rise and Aims of Rebel at Helm of Central African Republic". nytimes.com. New York Times. Retrieved 28 March 2023.


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