Group of peoples of Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire, including the Bassa, Krahn, Grebo, Klao (Kru), Bakwe, and Bete.
They speak Kru languages of the Niger-Congo family and number some 2.5 million. Members of Kru ethnic groups, especially Klao, Grebo, and Bassa, are known as stevedores and fishermen all along the west coast of Africa and have established colonies in most ports from Dakar, Seneg., to Douala, Camer., the largest being in Monrovia, Liberia.