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22-583: The Rund Kingdom, which expanded to become the Lunda Empire , encompassed territory stretching from Kwango River to the Luapula River . Its rulers partook in the slave trade . Lunda's expansion in the valley promoted a common political and cultural heritage while also promoting slave trading, accounting for the low population densities between the Kwango and Kwilu rivers. The Portuguese colonized

44-513: A Luba-speaking kingdom, but much larger than the various populations that existed in Kete and Sala Mpusa. The first major military campaign by Nawej was against Sala Mpasu. He is said to have built a major fortress in Sala Mpasu territory, but was not at this stage able to exert control over them. Nawej removed his troops from Sala Mpasu in response to an invasion of his territory by forces from

66-412: A result of reward for his loyalty to Mwanta Yamvo. Ilunga Tshibinda Ilunga Tshibinda was a Mwata Gaand of Luba descent. He was the second son of Ilunga Mbidi and younger brother Kalala Ilunga . At the seizure of power by Kalala Ilunga, Ilunga Tshibinda decided to leave his brother's empire is too small "for both. Arriving on land Lunda there marry Queen Lueji (Rweej or Nawej). No longer in

88-413: A title for the heir apparent. However these offices are only directly attested to by sources from the early 19th century. Perpetual kingship was practised, whereby the king 'became' his predecessor, adopting his name, kinship relations, and duties. Lunda started in an area where traditional farming and thus settled existence was only generally done in river valleys. Just to the north is an area where

110-523: Is now the Luapula Province of Zambia. The kingdom became a confederation of a number of chieftainships that enjoyed a degree of local autonomy (as long as tributes were paid), with Mwata Yamvo as paramount ruler and a ruling council (following the Luba model) to assist with administration. The strength of the kingdom enabled it to conquer the territory of other tribes, especially to the east. In

132-595: The Angolan Civil War , as both Uniao Nacional para a Independencia Total de Angola ( UNITA ) and government forces attempted to seize and hold the city. UNITA surrendered the town to the government on 30 September, 1997, as part of the Lusaka Protocol . The Cuango originates in the highlands of Alto Chicapa in the Angolan province of Lunda Sul , and flows south–north-west, crossing the border with

154-458: The 18th century, a number of migrations took place as far as the region to the south of Lake Tanganyika . The Bemba people of Northern Zambia descended from Luba migrants who arrived in Zambia throughout the 17th century. At the same time, a Lunda chief and warrior called Mwata Kazembe set up an Eastern Lunda kingdom in the valley of the Luapula River . The kingdom of Lunda came to an end in

176-517: The 19th century, when it was invaded by the Chokwe , who were armed with guns. The Chokwe then established their own kingdom with their language and customs. Lunda chiefs and people continued to live in the Lunda heartland but were diminished in power. At the start of the colonial era (1884), the Lunda heartland was divided between Portuguese Angola, King Leopold II of Belgium 's Congo Free State and

198-599: The British in North-Western Rhodesia , which became Angola, DR Congo and Zambia, respectively. The Lunda groups in Northern Rhodesia were led by two prominent chiefs, Ishindi and Kazembe Kazembi, with Ishindi establishing his kingdom in the north-west of the country and Kazembe in the north-east. Of the two prominent chiefs, Ishindi was the first born of Mwanta Yamvo which Kazembe was made King as

220-828: The Democratic Republic of the Congo, and joining the Kasai River near the town of Bandundo . Thereafter, it empties into the Congo River . Rising in the Lunda plateau , the river forms a deep valley. It is 1,100 kilometres (680 mi) long from its source to its confluence with Congo River, of which 855 kilometres (531 mi) lies in Angola. The river drains a total catchment area of 263,500 square kilometres (101,700 sq mi). Its right bank tributaries are

242-631: The Kingdom of Kanyok. The Kanyok forces killed Nawej and established a fortress in Lunda territory. The next ruler, Muland, elected by the leaders of the state, was eventually able to drive out the Kanyok forces. The Lunda Kingdom controlled some 150,000 km by 1680. The state doubled in size to around 300,000 km at its height in the 19th century. The Mwane-a Yamvo of Lunda became powerful militarily from their base of 175,000 inhabitants. Along with this military strength through sheer numbers,

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264-784: The Kwango River valley and usurped the Kingdom of Kasanje . The Kwango River was subject to a Portuguese treaty signing in Lisbon on May 25, 1891, and the Declaration of March 24, 1894. Cuango , located in Lunda Norte Province within the Cuango River Valley, is considered to be “in the diamond heartland of northeastern Angola”, the richest diamond area in Angola. The town played an important role during

286-533: The Lunda Kingdom also received Muslim military advisors and some dated weapons from the cities of Nyangwe and Kabambare . Through marriage with descendants of the Luba kings, they gained political ties. The Lunda people were able to settle and colonize other areas and tribes, thus extending their kingdom through southwest Katanga into Angola and north-western Zambia , and eastwards across Katanga into what

308-664: The Tazua and Ginge River diversions on the Cuango. Kingdom of Lunda The Lunda Empire or Kingdom of Lunda was a confederation of states in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo , north-eastern Angola , and north-western Zambia . Its central state was in Katanga . Initially, the core of what would become the Lunda confederation was a commune called a N'Gaange in the kiLunda (kiyaka-kipunu) language. It

330-601: The Wamba and Kwilu rivers. The Cuango has a number of falls and rapids. Navigability is mostly achieved in the lower reaches of the river, spanning a length of 307 kilometres (191 mi) from its mouth to the Kingushi rapids. Partial navigation is also possible in the middle stretches of the river between Kingushi and the Franz Josef waterfalls over a distance of about 300 kilometres (190 mi). The lean season flow in

352-522: The areas between rivers can also be inhabited. In its early history Lundu struggled primarily with the Luba-speaking people who lived downriver, and thus north of it. These people are sometimes referred to with names such as Sala Mpusa or Kete, which make it appear they were organized single states. However in reality they were loose confederations of shifting alliances. It also early on faced off with Kanyok Kingdom , located to its north-west, also

374-451: The opportunity to prevail, Lueji cèda the throne to her husband, who rebelled brothers Lueji. Became sole master of the Kingdom, Ilunga Tshibinda led a campaign of expansion in which there will be great successes at the point of raising the Lunda kingdom to an empire, competing with his brother Kalala Ilunga. It is proclaimed Emperor and took the title of Mukalenge. Its capital was Asokwele . Ilunga Tshibinda had several children, among them

396-609: The river occurs during August. The average annual discharge in the lower reaches of the river is 2,700 cubic metres (95,000 cu ft)/s The river valley is inhabited by the Yaka , the Suku , the Mbala , and the Pende tribal groups. Their crafting skills are seen in the form of mask carvings in geometric patterns of figurines, and other carved objects. While the river is used for fishing,

418-402: The river valley account for largest number of diamond mines in the valley and in Angola. Prospecting permits have been awarded to BRC, extending to an area of 2,150 kilometres (1,340 mi) between Tembo and Kasonga Lunda over the Kwango River stretch of about 185 kilometres (115 mi). Under the mining license held by Soiadale de Desenvolvimento Mineiro (SDM), the areas of production is on

440-730: The valley is developed to the extent of providing subsistence agriculture only. Of note historically is palm oil and rubber production. The main economic activity and revenue to the Angolan State is derived by extraction of diamonds from the valley. The river basin has a rich source of diamonds in the Chitamba-Lulo Kimberlite Cluster in Lunda Norte Province, which was discovered in the main river channel and on flats and terraces in its flood plains. The provinces of Lunda Norte and Lund Sul in

462-493: Was ruled over by a monarch called the Mwane-a- n'Gaange. One of these rulers, Ilunga Tshibinda , came from the nation of Luba where his brother ruled and married a royal woman from a nation to their south. Their son became the first paramount ruler of the Lunda, creating the title of Mwane-a-Yamvu (c. 1665). Other sources state the first well-attested historical ruler of Lunda was Nawej, who begin his rule about 1695. His father

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484-419: Was said to have come from Kalundwe, a Luba language -speaking state. It is unclear, though, how much of the traditions of the kingdom before Nawej are historically accurate. Nawej is said by tradition to have created the office of queen mother, called Rukonkesh. A key part of this role was to help determine succession. He also created the office of Swan Mulond, which he gave to his mother Ruwej, and Swan Mulop,

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