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We do not yet have much information about boys' activities in Gabon. School is of course the principal activity. We do not yet have much information on schools in Gabon, but as in many countries, Christian missionaries hd a major imoact in founding the school system. Gabon is a largely Christian country. Something like 75 percen of the population identifies as being Christian. A majority is Catholic as a result of French colonial rule. Christian missionaries have been active in Gabon since the early-19th century. Some 10 percent are Muslim, but many are foreigners. About 10 percent of the population practice traditional religious practices. Many Christins and Muslims have inciorporate some traditional elements in their religious practices. As in other African countries, the principal sport enjoyed by boys is soccer. The boys commonly play barefoot. Boys with shoes and flip-flops often take them off so the competition is fair. A reader writes, "I think that not always the boys having shoes take them off so as not to have an advantage. Often these boys wear flip flops or sandals and take off them to play better. On the other hand, although in a city like Libreville virtually all the children now own some sort of footwear and they go shod to school, to church and in other situations, nevertheless they are used to walk barefoot since they were born and are able to go shoeless on almost all surfaces."
School is of course the principal activity. We do not yet have much informatiin on schools in Gabon, but as in many countries, Christian missionaries had a major impact in founding the school system.
Gabon is a largely Christian country. Something like 75 percen of the population identifies as being Christian. Some estimates are as low as 60 percent. A majority of Gabonese Christians are Catholic as a result of French colonial rule. Gabon is a relatively small country. And unlike many countries most of the country is located close to the coast. Thus the colnial experuence was more intense than the case of much of africa. Christian missionaries have been active in Gabon since the early-19th century. The Church in Gabon still relies on foreign clergy, especially the French Holy Ghost Fathers. There are also, however, Gabonese ckergy as well. Catholic churches are located throughout the country. The Protestant denominations have more regional bases. In recent years there has been a growing evagelical movement with Christian Alliance Church in the southwest. There also is a tiny Evangelical Pentecostal Church (Assembly of God) in the estuary and far northern regions. There is also a syncretise religion called Bwiti, based on a secret society (early-20th century). The Babongo forest people originated the Bwiti religion. It was based on the consumption of the intoxicating hallucinogenic iboga plant. Bwiti played an important role in promoting Fang unity. Some 10 percent of the popultion are Muslim, but many are foreigners. Quite a number of foreigners live in Ganon. About 10 percent of the population practice traditional religious practices. Many Christins and Muslims have incorporated some traditional elements in their religious practices.
As in other African countries, the principal sport enjoyed by boys is soccer. The boys commonly play barefoot. Boys with shoes and flip-flops often take them off so the competition is fair. A reader writes, "I think that not always the boys having shoes take them off so as not to have an advantage. Often these boys wear flip flops or sandals and take off them to play better. On the other hand, although in a city like Libreville virtually all the children now own some sort of footwear and they go shod to school, to church and in other situations, nevertheless they are used to walk barefoot since they were born and are able to go shoeless on almost all surfaces."
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