This page was elaborated in cooperation with Hadrien Gelas and Jean-Marie Hombert, DDL-Lyon University, 2009.

Data on Punu

Alternative names: Ipunu, Yipunu.

Classification: Niger-Congo family, Bantu language

Area: South of Gabon, areas of Tchibanga, Mouilla, Ndende, and the capital of Gabon, Libreville. Speakers are found also in Congo around the Gabonese boarder.

Number of speakers: 132000 according to Ethnologue.com

Language status: No official status.

Interethnic language of communication.

Vitality and transmission: Although UNESCO does not consider Punu under threat, the transmission of the language seems to be suffering from decline, especially among populations in big urban areas where the young generations tend to give it up for French.

Videos in Punu on Sorosoro.org

See all videos in Punu

Historical & ethnographic observations

The Punu are one of the most important ethnic groups in Gabon. Their main locations are the Nyanga and Ngounié provinces (south-west of Gabon) and along the main road leading Mouila to Libreville. Historically the Punu dwellings were situated south of their current territory.

Movement of the Punu population towards urban areas (especially Libreville and Port Gentil) is provoking a steady loss of traditional knowledge, especially the oral tradition. The young generation’s knowledge of the Pulu tales and founding narratives is often very limited.

Linguistic observations

Punu belongs to the Bantu language family and is linguistically very close to other languages of the area : Lumbu, Eshira, Sangu, Vungu, Varama and Ngove. Mutual understanding among them is close to perfect.

Sources, bibliography and additional links

IDIATA, Daniel Franck (2007) Les langues du Gabon. Données en vue de l’élaboration d’un atlas linguistique. Paris, L’Harmattan.