The Nation of Lunda (c. 1665 – c. 1887) 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.
The Lunda Empire was founded by Tshibinda Ilunga who came from Luba royal family (Ilunga Tshibinda was a Mwata Gaand of Luba descent. He was the second son of Ilunga Mbidi and younger brother Kalala Ilunga). Tshibinda Ilunga married the Lunda queen called Rweej (or Lueji). The descendants of this marriage produced a new Lunda dynasty, which, during the 16th, assumed the title Mwaant Yaav or Mwata Yamvo (‘The Lord of Vipers’).
The centre of the empire lay in the Valley of Nkala River.
FACTORS FOR THE RISE OF LUNDA STATE
1. Iron technology
2. Development of local industries
3. Agriculture activities
4. Good leadership
5. Trade
DECLINE: The empire declined after the arrival of Europeans
NOTE:
• Nzinga Mbande (1583–1663) was Queen of the Ambundu Kingdoms of Ndongo (1624–1663) and Matamba (1631–1663), located in present-day northern Angola.
• Luba-Lunda states, a complex of states that flourished in Central Africa (in the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) from the late 15th to the late 19th century. The Luba state was situated east of the Kasai River around the headwaters of the Lualaba River, and the Lunda state east of the Kwango River around the headwaters of the Kasai River. A later state, Kazembe, was located to the southeast.
• Currency systems used in most of the Central African states were; Nzimbu shells, Lubongo (raffia) and Mpusu cloth.
