Congo, Luba Statue

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Luba statue

The Luba (Baluba in Tchiluba) are a people from Central Africa. Their origin is Katanga, specifically the Lubu River area, hence the name (Baluba, which means "Lubas"). They emerged from a secession of the Songhoy ethnic group, under the direction of Ilunga Kalala who killed the old king Kongolo, venerated ever since under the guise of a python. In the 16th century they created a state, organized as a decentralized chiefdom, which extended from the Kasai river to Lake Tanganyika. The chieftaincies covered a small territory without a real border which included at the very most three villages. However, these various chiefdoms were linked by trade. The outstanding figures of this Luba monarchy were the Kongolo and Kalala Ilunga kings (16th century) and the successors Kasongo Nyembo and Kabongo. The Balubas often were divided, giving birth to Bena-Lulua and Lunda. Thus the Mwata Yamvo, the Lunda emperor, was born from a Luba father, and Moses Tshombe, one of these descendants, was also of Luba origin. In the 19th century the Lubas could not cope with the assaults of the Chokwe, lele and Yekes. Previously Balubas venerated their dead ancestors who lived in Heaven and protected them. They also had oracles (lubuko) with diviners. The Flemish priests nevertheless transcribed and taught Chiluba in schools alongside French. Balubas did not know about private property: the notion of selling land came with colonization.