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The Azande (plural, Bazande) are a people of north central Africa. Their number is estimated by various sources at between 1 and 4 million.
They live primarily in the northern part of Democratic Republic of the Congo, in southwestern Sudan, and in the southeastern Central African Republic. The Congolese Azande live in the province of Upper Zaïre; the Sudanese Azande live along the shores of the Uele River, and the Central African Azande live in the districts of Rafaï, Zémio, and Obo.
They speak an Adamawa-Ubangi language, and most practice a traditional animist religion.
The name
The word Azande means the people who possess much land, and refers to their history as conquering warriors.
There are many variant spellings of Azande, including: Zande, Zandeh, A-Zandeh, Sandeh, etc.
The name Niam-Niam was frequently used by foreigners to refer to the Azande in the 19th and early 20th century. This name is probably of Dinka origin, and means great eaters in that language (as well as being an onomatopoeia), supposedly referring to cannibalistic propensities. This name for the Azande was in use by other tribes in Sudan, and later adopted by westerners. Naturally, today the name Niam-Niam is considered pejorative, and should not be used.
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