ABSTRACT
The Central African government, following the wise course charted by Barthelemy Boganda, pronounced at independence that ethnic distinctions should play no role in the political and social life of the country. In 1952 the colonial administration fixed the number of ethnic groups in the Central African territory at eight; this grouping was based loosely on cultural characteristics. The eight included: Gbaya-Manja, Banda, Ubangians, Sara, Zande, Nzakara, Muslims, and Cameroonians. Most Central African women continue to play a crucial role in food gathering, production, conservation, distribution, and preparation. Most young urban Central Africans do not receive the training in ethics and social behavior that they would have been exposed to in village and lineage-based societies. In terms of day-to-day behavior, especially among the youth in Bangui and in the larger administrative centers, Christianity appears to have far less impact than traditional patterns once had in rural areas.
