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Tribe Snapshots Luba |
| Location: |
Southeastern Congo
(Zaire) |
| Population: |
1 million |
| Language: |
Ciluba (central Bantu) |
| Neighboring
Peoples: |
Chokwe,
Ndembu, Kaonde, Bemba, Tabwa, Hemba, Songye,
Lunda |
| Types
of Art: |
The iconographic representation of women in
Luba sculpture is widespread and correlates to
the important role of women in Luba society. The
Luba are best known for their stools, divination
bowls (mboko), beautifully carved bow stands,
and memory boards (lukasa). |
| History: |
The relentless expansion of Luba empire can
be traced as far back as 1500, when it emerged
from the Upemba depression which is still the
heartland of the Luba. Eastward expansion to Lake
Tanganyika intensified under the leadership of
Ilungu Sungu between 1780 and 1810. This was followed
by north and southeast expansion until 1840 under
Kumwimbe Ngombe and then to the northwest and
northeast from 1840 to 1870 under Ilunga Kabale.
The empire began to diminish after his death in
1870 as Arab slave traders and European invaders
challenged notions of Luba supremacy in the region
contributing to the decline of Luba power. The
legacy of the great empire is still recognizable
in the region today, where local customs and art
styles often reflect a strong Luba influence.
See also the essay on African
States by Professor James Giblin. |
| Economy: |
During the height of its reign, the Luba empire
operated on a complex system of tributes which
acted to redistribute wealth throughout the region.
The ruling class had a virtual monopoly on trade
items such as salt, copper, and iron ore, which
allowed them to continue their dominance. Most
citizens of the empire relied on slash and burn
farming for subsistence. This was supplemented
with fishing and hunting. The importance of hunting
was reinforced by social institutions, which celebrated
the fortunes of good hunters. |
| Political
Systems: |
The Luba empire was characterized by centralized
authority vested in a sacred king (mulopwe). This
king enforced his power through the control of
subordinate regional leaders who normally inherited
their status based on their positions within various
patriclans. The mulopwe's power was reinforced
by a royal diviner who was responsible for formally
initiating him into his royal position. Numerous
institutions existed to counterbalance the absolute
power of the king. The best known of these institutions
is the Bambudye society, whose members are responsible
for remembering the history of the kingdom and
whose interpretations of history could often influence
the actions of active rulers.
See also the essay on African
States by Professor James Giblin. |
| Religion: |
The primary religion was based on veneration
of the ancestors and involved paying tribute to
the spirits. The Luba royalty incorporated religious
elements into the justification for their rule.
Like the monarchies of western Europe, the position
of the Luba king was seen as divinely inspired
and directly correlated with the genesis myth
for the people. As such, the investiture of the
king's power was represented in a complex coronation
ritual involving religious confirmation from a
diviner. |
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