Bakomo

or Babira, a group of tribes closely related in language and culture, including the Bakomo, Babira, Ba-pere, Balombo, and Wagenia. They inhabit the regions south and east of Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their combined population was over 250,000 according to a 1967 estimate. The Bakomo language belongs to the Kongo group of the Bantu language family. Many Bakomo speak Kingwana (a dialect of Swahili). The Bakomo retain local traditional beliefs. Their chief occupation is hoe farming (bananas, cassava, corn, and cotton). Crafts are also widely practiced (woodworking and pottery). Some of the Bakomo work in mining enterprises and on plantations.