The
Ovimbundu (singular
Ocimbundu, adjective and language
Umbundu), also known as the
Southern Mbundu, are a
Bantu ethnic group who lives on the
Bié Plateau of central
Angola and in the coastal strip west of these highlands. As the largest ethnic group in Angola, they make up almost 40 percent of the country's population. Overwhelmingly the Ovimbundu follow
Christianity, mainly the
Igreja Evangélica Congregacional de Angola (IECA), founded by American missionaries, and the Catholic Church. However, some still retain beliefs and practices from
African traditional religions.