The Lari (alternatively Ladi, Laari, Laadi,, Baladi, Balaadi, Balari or Balaari) is an ethnic group of the Republic of the Congo and the name of the language they speak.

A subgroup of the Kongo people, the Lari live in the communes of Brazzaville, the capital; and Pointe-Noire, and within the surrounding Pool Department.

[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][11][10][9] Several hypotheses have been put forward for the origin of the word ladi or lari, but it seems to be taken from the word Nladi, Muladi, M'ladi (translation: He or she who disappears (or loses), a word derived from the verb Lala disappear/lose in Kikongo, more specifically in Kimbata and Kitsotso) or from the Luladi or Lulari river (called Lelali by the Téké-Yaka), a river near Kimpanzu, the village of Malonga Mi Mpanzu alias Bueta Mbongo or Bweta Mbongo; Boueta Mbongo in French (about 1860–1898).

After the death of Bueta Mbongo in 1898, the mfumu (chiefs) signed a surrender in 1899, accepting French authority in the region.

[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][11][10][9] • Content in this edit is translated from the existing French Wikipedia article at fr:Lari (peuple)