History of Gabon - Early History

Early History

From the 14th century until the present time Bantu groups immigrated into Gabon from several directions to escape enemies or to find new land. Little is known of tribal life before European contact but tribal art suggests a rich cultural heritage. Gabon's first confirmed European visitors were Portuguese traders who arrived in the 15th century and named the country after the Portuguese word gabão — a coat with sleeve and hood resembling the shape of the Komo River estuary. The coast became a center of the slave trade. Dutch, English, and French traders came in the 16th century. Some portuguese salors were based many dominions, where they were they own kings one of them was Ogandaga é Butu a mixte man who had a Gabonese mother and a portuguese father, he left many islets close to Gabon which are détained by his Grand- daughter named Mbourou Eranga Yanelle Prunella no one in our days considers that she is a princess but many of his grand-children have a royalty blood.