The Misuse And Abuse Of The Term "Bantu"

[mellomusings]

This is something I have witnessed that people online on various forums and platforms both knowingly and unknowingly misappropiate the term "Bantu" when in discussion of African people or African history. Whether they be lighthearted simple conversations/debates or heated slanderous arguments online there seems to be the notion of using the term "Bantu" as a catchall term for people of African descent/ancestry particulary those inhabiting what has historically been known to ancients as Ethiopia, or Bilad al Sudan, etc., but more commonly termed "Sub-Saharan Africa" in more recent times and if I'm not mistaken "Bantu", is simply just a language classification that does not constitute a single particular tribe, ethnicity, or people similar to other language groupings in Africa such as Niger-Congo, Nilo-Saharan, Chadic, Cushitic, etc., or anywhere else in the world for that matter. Just something that annoys me and food for thought feel free to comment when you are free to do so.

[asante]

The identification of the "Bantu" predates modern categorization, as it is seen inscribed in ancient Kemet.

BATU, THE BANTU (General Niger-Congo Speakers) 

By Ferg Somo 

For the first time ever the set of hieroglyphics above leaves an indelible print which traces back the existence of the Bantu people during ancient times in the Sudan and Kemet. The following variations in pronunciation of the word 'Bantu' give an insight on how the word may have been pronounced in different Bantu languages. The list of the various pronunciations was provided by Israel Ntangazwa. Some of the variations in pronunciation are new to me. 

SOME VARIATIONS IN PRONUNCIATION OF THE WORD 'BANTU' THE PEOPLE BANTU, BATU, ATHO, WATU, ATU, ACHO, BOT, BANU, BANHU, ADU 

The hieroglyphics shown above spells out the word 'BATU' in keeping with the current original word 'BANTU'. The maps shown below trace the possible migrations of the Bantu people. The origin of the Bantu people is a controversial issue and has been deeply debated. 

Below is an account which questions present day ideas about the origins of the Bantu people. In his book on the 'Restatement Of Bantu Origin and Meru History' the Kenyan scholar Alfred M M'Imanyara provides the evidence for a southerly migration from Kemet of the Bantu people. 

THE NIGER- CONGO HYPOTHESIS 

The Niger-Congo hypothesis developed by Joseph Greenberg on Bantu languages state that the Bantu originated in West Africa, the Cameroon, and migrated across the Congo basin into Southern and East Africa. 

Guthrie on the other hand did not commit himself but said that the Bantu dispersal lies within an elliptical area towards the centre, in the woodland region of Katanga. 

The Niger-Congo hypothesis needs to be re-examined further as one has to take into account oral traditions from groups of present day Kenyan Bantu elders who recall a southerly migration from Kemet. 

Read more: egyptsearchreloaded.proboards.com/thread/1547/valley-origins-dispersal-niger-speakers#ixzz68xfVbLsW

[mellomusings]

Dec 23, 2019 14:51:56 GMT -5 asante said:

The identification of the "Bantu" predates modern categorization, as it is seen inscribed in ancient Kemet.

BATU, THE BANTU (General Niger-Congo Speakers) 

By Ferg Somo 

For the first time ever the set of hieroglyphics above leaves an indelible print which traces back the existence of the Bantu people during ancient times in the Sudan and Kemet. The following variations in pronunciation of the word 'Bantu' give an insight on how the word may have been pronounced in different Bantu languages. The list of the various pronunciations was provided by Israel Ntangazwa. Some of the variations in pronunciation are new to me. 

SOME VARIATIONS IN PRONUNCIATION OF THE WORD 'BANTU' THE PEOPLE BANTU, BATU, ATHO, WATU, ATU, ACHO, BOT, BANU, BANHU, ADU 

The hieroglyphics shown above spells out the word 'BATU' in keeping with the current original word 'BANTU'. The maps shown below trace the possible migrations of the Bantu people. The origin of the Bantu people is a controversial issue and has been deeply debated. 

Below is an account which questions present day ideas about the origins of the Bantu people. In his book on the 'Restatement Of Bantu Origin and Meru History' the Kenyan scholar Alfred M M'Imanyara provides the evidence for a southerly migration from Kemet of the Bantu people. 

THE NIGER- CONGO HYPOTHESIS 

The Niger-Congo hypothesis developed by Joseph Greenberg on Bantu languages state that the Bantu originated in West Africa, the Cameroon, and migrated across the Congo basin into Southern and East Africa. 

Guthrie on the other hand did not commit himself but said that the Bantu dispersal lies within an elliptical area towards the centre, in the woodland region of Katanga. 

The Niger-Congo hypothesis needs to be re-examined further as one has to take into account oral traditions from groups of present day Kenyan Bantu elders who recall a southerly migration from Kemet. 

Read more: egyptsearchreloaded.proboards.com/thread/1547/valley-origins-dispersal-niger-speakers#ixzz68xfVbLsW

Although interesting this is more in reference towards many people using the term in a derogatory, ignorant, and out of context fashion across a multitude of forums and platforms online.