Ethnicity Guesser

Based on historical distributions from ~1500 years ago. Estimates appearance, not DNA ancestry or personal identity.

Phenotype

Bobo Phenotype - Face Features & Origin

The Bobo phenotype is a west africa human phenotype documented in historical anthropology literature. This page presents the Bobo phenotype average face composite, its geographic distribution, physical characteristics, historical background, and academic references.

Average Face

The Bobo phenotype average face is a composite synthesized from multiple individual photographs by historical anthropologists. It represents a statistical impression of recurring facial features, not a real person.

Bobo phenotype average face composite

Geographic Distribution

The Bobo phenotype is native to West Africa. The historical distribution below reflects approximate centers of prevalence documented roughly 1500 years ago; modern borders and population movements have since blurred these boundaries.

Approximate coordinates: 8.00°, -5.00° (latitude, longitude).

Bobo phenotype historical center: 8.00, -5.00 — West Africa

Physical Characteristics

Dark brown, sometimes black skin, usually kinky hair. Tall, (hyper-)brachyskelic, mesomorph. Mesocephalic, mildly hypsicranic. (Hyper-)platyrrhine, relatively short nose that is lower in women. The face is large with a large mouth and bulging lips. Occiput and prognathy are usually pronounced. Body hair extremely weak.

Historical Background

Sudanid variety with shorter skulls than Sudanids proper, and several other unique features that set it apart from other neighbouring groups. Similar to the Casamance type, but taller and wider-faced. Found in its purest form in Bobo-Fing and Bobo-Dyula in the Upper Volta region of Burkina Faso and Mali, also in Dogon, Senufo, and Songhai. In low frequencies across West Africa e.g. in Casamance and Ashanti.

Source: Human Phenotypes — Bobo

References & Literature

The Bobo phenotype entry above is compiled from the following academic references. Readers are encouraged to consult the original sources for verification and deeper context.

  • Pales, L. and T. de St-Péreuse. 1953. Raciologie comparative des populations de l'Afrique occidentale.Bull. et Mém. de la Société d'anthropologie de Paris X. 185-497.
  • Chabeuf, M. 1959. Anthropologie physique du Moyen-Congo et du Gabon méridional. Bull- et Mém- de la Société d'anthr- de Paris. 10, 2, 97-185.
  • Grottanelli, V. 1967. I popoli del Sudan occidentale. In: Biasutti, R. Le Razze e i Popoli della terra. 4th Ed. Vol 1-4. U.T.E.T., Torino.
  • Leschi, J. 1958. Premières données craniométriques concernant des Noirs Dogon de la boucle du Niger. Bulletins et Mémoires de la Société d'anthropologie de Paris 9. 160-168.

Related Phenotypes

Other human phenotypes related to Bobo by geography or typological similarity.

  • Casamance

    West Africa

    Type of the Sudanid-Guinesid contact belt with a variety of unique features that set it apart from other groups. Most common in the lower Ca...

  • East Sudanid

    West Africa

    Isolated Sudanid variety of the Nuba mountains in Kurdufan / Sudan, native to the region at least since the Neolithic. Has resisted historic...

  • Equatorial Sudanid

    West Africa

    Central African variety with Sudanid and Congolid elements, living in the Savanna regions of East Cameroon, Central African Republic, South ...

  • Guineo Camerunian

    West Africa

    West African type, the shorter-skulled counterpart of Guinesids. May constitute the transition to Congolesids. Common in forest regions of C...

  • Guinesid

    West Africa

    West African forest type native to the littoral of the Gulf of Guinea. Extends from Guinea all the way to Cameroon and sporadically even to ...