|
Tribe Snapshots Lunda |
| Location: |
Congo
(Zaire), western Zambia,
northern Angola |
| Population: |
175,000 |
| Language: |
Cilunda, Kiluba (Bantu) |
| Neighboring Peoples: |
Yaka, Suku, Chokwe,
Pende,
Lwalwa,
Luluwa,
Luba,
Lwena, Salampasu |
| Types of Art: |
Although it is impossible to isolate specific
examples of Lunda art, their political activity
in the region and their patronage of artists living
in neighboring ethnic groups influenced the artistic
styles found throughout the region. It is believed
that all objects historically linked to the Lunda
were originally carved by neighbors, including
Chokwe, Luba, Ding, and Lwena. |
| History: |
Lunda history is intricately tied to the peoples
living throughout the entire region of south central
Congo (Zaire), western Zambia, and northern Angola.
From the early 17th century until the late 19th
century when the Chokwe took over regional power,
the Lunda empire was the dominant political and
military force in this area of Africa. A political
union with the neighboring Luba peoples dates
back to a royal wedding between Lweji, daughter
of a Lunda land chief, and Cibinda Ilunga, son
of the first Luba king, Kalala Ilunga. Following
this union many dissatisfied clans left the centralized
Lunda area and colonized new areas of central
Africa, extending the Lunda empire enormously.
Lunda influence remained considerable from Lake
Tanganyika almost to the Atlantic Ocean, until
Chokwe and then colonial interventions diminished
their power. |
| Economy: |
The economic pursuits of Lunda peoples are dictated
by the region in which they live. Those who live
along the rivers and ponds which are common in
southern Congo (Zaire) are fishermen. Women farm
maize, millet, yams, sorghum, squash, beans, sweet
potatoes, palm oil trees, and tobacco. Since the
17th century trade between the Lunda and the Shaba
province to the east has played an important role
in regional economics. During the height of Lunda
influence their traders played an important role
in the slave and ivory trade that moved goods
and people from central Africa to the coasts for
international export. Hunting plays an important
social and ritual role. |
| Political Systems: |
The head of the Lunda is entitled Mwaat Yaav
and, together with a council of royal dignitaries,
was at one time responsible for overseeing political
decisions for the entire kingdom. Localized politics
were presided over by land chiefs, who wielded
a great deal of religious power, and by administrators
appointed by the royal court. The majority of
the Lunda kingdom was ruled indirectly with traditional
leaders in individual regions given the opportunity
to make local decisions, as long as proper tribute
was paid to the Lunda overlords. It is believed
that the Lunda may have at one time been patrilineal,
but as they conquered and incorporated various
ethnic groups that were matrilineal, their political
system transformed to reflect a preference for
matrilineal descent. |
| Religion: |
Nzambi is recognized as the supreme creator
god, and appeals are never made directly to him.
Instead, ancestor spirits, who are responsible
for doing both good and bad, are called upon to
fulfill individual and community requests at all
major community functions. Divination plays an
important role in maintaining a system of balance
in the community, determining which spirits require
appeasement and when such activities should occur.
Basket divination and rubbing oracles are the
most common forms of divination among the Lunda.
Trees are planted in a sacred grove during chiefly
succession rites to represent the ancestors of
the current chief. |
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