Gabonese Republic is the official name of Gabon. It is a nation on Central Africa's west coast. The equator is where it is situated. Its size is almost 270,000 square kilometers. 2.3 million people are thought to live there. In Gabon, there are mountains and coastal plains.
More than half of Gabon's population lives in cities, with the majority of residents residing in Libreville, the nation's capital and largest city. Gabon, a former colony of France, continues to have close ties with France and the French language and culture.
The islands of Sao Tome and Principe are situated off the coast of Gabon, which is bordered to the north by Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon, to the east and south by the Republic of the Congo, and the west by the Atlantic Ocean.
History:
The first expedition to the Gabon-Congo region was led by explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza in 1875. He served as colonial governor after founding the town of Franceville. When France formally took over the region in 1885, some Bantu tribes were already residing there. The federation of French Equatorial Africa included Gabon as one of its four colonies in 1910. Little resistance was shown to the French occupation of the interior of Gabon, but trade restrictions, labor taxes for public projects, and forced labor sparked fierce opposition. France granted Gabon full independence on July 15, 1960.
Culture:
The culture of Gabon has a strong French influence. The writing of the present day in Gabon is almost entirely in French. Folklore and mythology are present in this nation, which had a largely oral culture before literacy became widely available in the 21st century. The mvett among the Fangs and the ingwala among the Nzebis are just two examples of traditions they work to preserve.
There are at least 40 different ethnic groups in Gabon, among them the Fang,Teke-Mbete, Kota, and Akélé.
Given that some ethnic groups are dispersed across Gabon, there is a higher chance of encounters, interactions, and marriages between the various groups. Some tribes forbid intertribal marriage because it is seen as incest and is therefore forbidden.
Language:
There is only one official language, French. It is estimated that 30% of people in Libreville are native French speakers and that 80% of the population can communicate in the language.
Indigenous languages are spoken by the vast majority of Gabonese people nationwide
Geography:
It is situated between latitudes 3°N and 4°S and longitudes 8° and 15°E on the Atlantic coast of central Africa. With a system of rainforests covering 89.3% of its land area, Gabon has an equatorial climate. The 1,200 km long Ogooué River is its longest river. It has three karst regions, where the dolomite and limestone rocks contain hundreds of caves. To photograph some caves, a National Geographic Expedition went there in the summer of 2008.
| Official name | Gabonese Republic |
| Capital | Libreville |
| Population | 23.4 lakhs |
| Area | 267,667 km² |
| Currency | Central African CFA franc |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Language | French |
| Major Cities | Libreville, Estuaire, Mandji |
FAQs
Q1.What is the official language of Gabon?
French is the official language of Gabon.
Q2.What is the capital of Gabon?
Libreville is the capital of Gabon
Q3.What is the currency of Gabon?
Central African CFA franc is the currency of Gabon
Q4.What is the climate of Gabon?
The nation has a hot, humid climate that is typical of tropical areas. The nation only experiences one wet season, which lasts from October to May and has a mean monthly rainfall of 200–250 mm.
Last Updated on: January 03, 2025