Lali love poem

Poetry translated into Lali (Bali, Eastern Teke, Ibali, Kiteke, Teke-Ibali), a Téké group language, spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and the Republic of Congo. An African poem, for the love of a Tio girl. This Bantu language is one of the 12 known teke languages.

The Batékés (Tékés) are famous for their traditional wooden masks painted in dark colors. They were farmers for the most part, men hunted and fished, while women performed most of the agricultural tasks. Matrilineal and patrilocal, they were grouped in villages that stretch along a track, autonomous politically they were subject to the authority of a council of elders. It consisted of the elders of each lineage.