Lunda Empire was an empire in Central Africa, located along the Kisai tributaries, which was very influential in the modern day Shaba Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, eastern Angola, and Western Zambia.
HistoryOral history has it, around 1450 Mulopwe Chibunda Ilunga, legendary hunter from the Luba Kingdom founded a new Lunda Dynasty by marrying the Lunda princess Rweej. Their son became the supreme lord, Mwaant Yaav( Lord of Vipers) by unifying the Lunda people and expanding the empire. Much of the empire's growth took place during the 1600s and 1700s. Rivalry for the throne would cause splinters and formation of new kingdoms. The Luena, Lozi, and Imbangala kingdoms all claim descent from the Lunda. The Empire was diminished by a Chokwe invasion and later taken over by Belgium, which kept the Lunda political structure in place for its own use.
|
Reign | Ruler | Description |
c.1500-1516 | Mwaaka | |
c.1516-1550 | Yala Maaku | |
c.1550-1590 | Kunde | |
c.1590-1600 | Luedji | |
c.1600-1620 | Nkonda Matit | |
c.1620-1630 | Cibinda Ilunga | |
c.1660-1687 | Yavu A Nawej | |
c.1687-1719 | Mbal Iyavu | |
c.1719-1720 | Mukas Munying Kabalond | |
c.1720-1748 | Muteba Kat Kateng | |
c.1748-1766 | Mukas Waranankong | |
c.1766-1773 | Nawej Mufa Muchimbunj | |
c.1773-1802 | Chikombi Iyavu | |
c.1802-1852 | Nawej Ditend | |
c.1852-1857 | Mulaji Namwan | |
c.1857-1873 | Muteba Chikombu | |
c.1873-1874 | Mbala Kmong Isot | |
c.1874-1883 | Mbumb Muteba Kat | |
c.1883-1884 | Chimbindu Kasang | |
c.1884-1884 | Kangapu Nawej | |
c.1884-1886 | Mudib | |
c.1886-1887 | Mutand Mukaz | |
c.1887-1887 | Mbala Kalong | |
c.1887-1903 | Mushidi | |
c.1903-1920 | Muteba III | |
c.1920-1951 | Kamba | |
c.1951-1963 | Ditend Yavu | |
c.1963-1965 | Musidi | |
c.1965-1975 | Muteba IV | |
c.1975-? | Mbumba | |
Works Cited
Appiah, Kwame Anthony and Gates, Henry Louis, Jr.(1999). Africana: the Encyclopedia of African and African American Experience. Basic Civitas Books, pp.1208-1209. ISBN 0-465-00071-1.
Shillington, Kevin (2005). History of Africa. Revised 2nd ed. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 139-141 . ISBN 0-333-59957-8
Kingdoms of the Savanna: The Luba and Lunda Empires. Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. retrieved 04-11-11
Lunda Information. Art and Life in Africa Online. retrieved 04-11-11.