Mimi

people

Also known as: Mimi of Gaudefroy-Demombynes, Mimi of Nachtigal(Show More)

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July 16, 2026

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The term "Mimi" can refer to different groups and concepts. One usage refers to peoples in Chad who speak Maban languages, a branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family. These groups are often identified by the names of their first investigators, such as Gustav Nachtigal and Maurice Gaudefroy-Demombynes. Some individuals who call themselves Amdang are also known as Mimi or Biltine and speak a language related to that of the Fur people.1

Additionally, "mim" can be used as an adjective in dialect to describe someone as affectedly shy or modest. The genus name Mimus refers to a group of birds that includes mockingbirds.23

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The Peoples Known as Mimi
The Mimi of Nachtigal and the Mimi of Gaudefroy-Demombynes, both of whom speak a Maban language of the Nilo-Saharan language family, are identified by the names of their first investigators: Gustav Nachtigal and Maurice Gaudefroy-Demombynes, respectively. The name Mimi sometimes is applied to a people…
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The Mimi of Nachtigal and the Mimi of Gaudefroy-Demombynes, both of whom speak a Maban language of the Nilo-Saharan language family, are identified by the names of their first investigators: Gustav Nachtigal and Maurice Gaudefroy-Demombynes, respectively. The name Mimi sometimes is applied to a people…
Read More