The Bantu people are believed to have originated in the region of modern-day Cameroon and southeastern Nigeria around 3000 to 2000 BCE. From there, they began a massive migration—known as the Bantu expansion—spreading southward and eastward across sub-Saharan Africa over several centuries. This movement brought with it advanced knowledge of agriculture, ironworking, and language, which laid the foundation for many of the cultures and societies in central, eastern, and southern Africa today.
