THE LUBA EMPIRE (1585-1889)
The Kingdom of Luba or Luba Empire (1585–1889) was a pre-colonial Central African state that arose in the marshy grasslands of the Upemba Depression in what is now southern Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to Luba mythology, the founding hero of this empire was a great huntsman called Kalala Ilunga around 1585 who expanded the empire over the upper left bank territories of the Lualaba River.
During the 14th century, the Luba east of the Lualaba River were organized into a single centralized kingdom under a dynasty known as Nkongolo. According to Luba oral tradition, the original Nkongolo came from the Songye peoples of the north.
Ilunga’s father (Ilunga Mbidi) married the sister of the ruling Nkongolo. This intermarriage gave the rise of Luba lineage of Kalala Ilunga, the founder of Munza as capital of Luba. The title of the king in Luba Empire was Mulopwe.
The new Ilunga dynasty, according to tradition, expanded the Kingdom westward past Lake Kisale.
REASONS FOR THE RISE OF THE LUBA STATE
1.Centralized system of Administration where the kingdom had final say in wars and external trade
2. The development of trade
3. Agricultural Activities
4. The presence of iron technology.
