Gabon

Gabon’s Historic Sites Tell a Story of Colonial Legacy and Cultural Resilience

On the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, Gabon offers a historical landscape shaped by the interplay of indigenous traditions and European colonial presence. Its cities and towns carry visible reminders of that past,...

Gabon’s Artisans Preserve Handcraft Traditions in a Modern World

In workshops shaded by corrugated roofs and in open-air markets where the sound of haggling mixes with the scent of wood shavings, Gabon’s artisans carry forward traditions rooted in centuries of practice. Their...

Gabon’s Traditional Music Weaves Community and Memory

In villages across Gabon, the sound of drums carries through the night air, punctuated by voices rising in unison. What may begin as a celebration often unfolds into something deeper—a ritual that binds communities together and affirms a shared sense of belonging. Music in Gabon is not a backdrop but a social thread. Rooted in centuries of practice, it serves as a vessel for history, memory, and identity. Among the country’s many ethnic groups—the Fang, Myene, Nzebi, and others—songs are not merely performed; they are lived. Instruments like the mbongui, a resonant wooden xylophone, the ngoma drum, and the likembe thumb piano shape the sonic landscapes of ceremonies and festivals....

Gabon’s Historic Sites Tell a Story of Colonial Legacy and Cultural Resilience

On the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, Gabon offers a historical landscape shaped by the interplay of indigenous traditions and European colonial presence. Its...

Gabon’s Artisans Preserve Handcraft Traditions in a Modern World

In workshops shaded by corrugated roofs and in open-air markets where the sound of...

Libreville’s Markets Reveal the Heart of Gabonese Cuisine

The air inside Libreville’s Marché du Mont-Bouet is heavy with the scent of ripened fruit and wood smoke, mingling with the murmur of vendors and the steady rhythm of bargaining. Here, in the...

Colorful Festivals Reflect Gabon’s Cultural Diversity

In Gabon, celebration is never far from ritual, and ritual is rarely separated from history. Across towns and villages, festivals unfold as vibrant expressions of identity, bringing together dozens of ethnic groups in...

Gabon’s Traditional Music Weaves Community and Memory

In villages across Gabon, the sound of drums carries through the night air, punctuated by voices rising in unison....