The word fioti was first used to describe Cabindans many centuries ago, when Portuguese adventurers first arrived in the area. At that time, about seven local dialects were spoken but the Portuguese failed to understand any of them, referring to all of the dialects as fiote because they were the languages spoken by black people.
Another reason why Cabindans do not like being called fioti is that the word was used by the Portuguese to describe everything that was inferior – a bad road would be called a fiote road and bad food would be called fiote food.
The language once call fiote spoken in Cabinda is today called – Ibinda – it has strong links with the Kikongo language, which was widely spoken throughout the region when it was part of the Kongo Kingdom.
Cabindan society is a rich blend of local cultures. Originally strategic parts of the ancient realm of Kongo, Cabindans have since been influenced by populations moving to the area from other parts of Angola, and also from Congo-Brazzaville and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The borders between Cabinda and the two Congos are very fuzzy, and the local populations do not really take much notice of them.
Many Cabindans have also moved out of their territory. During colonial times, Cabindans migrated to Pointe Noire, Brazzaville and Kinshasa – towns that were attractive because they were in independent neighboring countries Congo Leopoldville (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) became independent in 1960; Congo Brazzaville followed shortly afterwards in 1964.
Due to the population movements, Cabindan society developed into an interesting mix of the modern and the traditional. To this day, Cabindans still practice Bantu rituals such as initiation ceremonies. The most famous of these is the casa de tinta where young girls are locked in a house for several days, where they are taught the secrets of marital life by older women. The bodies of the girls are painted whilst they are inside the house. When they emerge from their seclusion, a big festival is held and the initiation is concluded. Shortly after this time, the girls are expected to get married.
Christianity has been a central part of Cabindan culture for many centuries, but the people maintain strong animist beliefs. They believe in the spirit world, worshipping deities from the Maiombe forest. Local music, generally played with marimbas and drums, imitates the sounds of the forest.
