Lunda Empire

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The Lunda Kingdom became known in the 17th century. It was located in Africa, in what is now Congo, and had a population of about 175,000. The Lunda empire was very powerful politically and also had a very strong military at the time of its existence in the area of Africa that it was located. A marriage between the daughter of the Lunda chief, and the son of their neighboring Luba people’s first king, greatly extended the Lunda Kingdom. Because of this union, the Lunda people were able to leave in large groups and then settle and colonialize other areas of central Africa, thus extending their kingdom.

Because of where the Lunda Kingdom was located, many of its people were fishermen and farmers. These jobs are what made their economy. Some of the items that were grown in the area of the Lunda Kingdom were maize, millet, yams, sorghum, squash, beans, sweet potatoes, palm oil trees and tobacco. The Lunda Kingdom’s traders played a large role in the slave and ivory trade that moved goods and people from central Africa to the coasts for export.

The Lunda Kingdom had a political leader, but also had a council. The different areas within the Lunda Kingdom had leaders as well. They were there to help make local decisions. The people of the Lunda Kingdom believed in Nzambi. They believed that Nzambi created everything of existence on earth. Nzambi is who the people of Lunda Kingdom turned to for religious inquest. The Lunda Kingdom came to end in the 19th century when the Chokwe attatcked and destroyed their kingdom by invading their land and using guns. The Chokwe then established their own kingdom with their language and customs.

[edit] References

1. "Lunda and Chokwe Kingdoms." Library of Congress County Studies. 03 Sept. 2006.
2. "Lunda Information." Art & Life in Africa. 03 Nov. 1998. 3 Sept. 2006.
3. "History of the Kingdom of Lunda, 15th-17th Century." 3 Sept. 2006.