Projects
KLHP
Kwilu languages history and populations dynamics
To sum up, the main objectives of the proposed research are as follows:
(1) Reconstruct the linguistic history of the Kwilu region and establish the historical ties which the Kwilu languages maintain amongst each other and with languages from neighbouring regions;
(2) Infer what historical-comparative linguistics in conjunction with oral historical traditions and molecular anthropological data can tell us about the pre-colonial history of the Kwilu more generally and population dynamics more particularly;
(3) Improve our understanding of the Bantu expansion in this part of Central Africa;
(4) Contribute to the conservation of Kwilu’s immaterial cultural heritage through the further documentation and description of some of the area’s understudied minority languages, and to a public awareness thereof ;
(5) Reinforce scientific collaboration ties between Belgian/European and Congolese/Central African researchers and institutes and strengthen research capacities on both sides.
Principal investigators:
- Jacky Maniacky
- Joseph Muluwa
Dates:
2011 2012Museum staff:
- Joseph Muluwa
- Jacky Maniacky