TYPES OF ART

The iconographic representation of women in Luba sculpture
is widespread and correlates to the important role of women in Luba society.
The Luba are best known for their stools, mboko (divination
bowls), beautifully carved bow stands, and lukasa (memory
boards).

HISTORY

The relentless expansion of Luba empire can be traced as far
back as 1500, when it emerged from the Upemba depression which is still the
heartland of the Luba. Eastward expansion to Lake Tanganyika intensified under
the leadership of Ilungu Sungu between 1780 and 1810. This was followed by
north and southeast expansion until 1840 under Kumwimbe Ngombe and then to the
northwest and northeast from 1840 to 1870 under Ilunga Kabale. The empire began
to diminish after his death in 1870 as Arab slave traders and European invaders
challenged notions of Luba supremacy in the region contributing to the decline
of Luba power. The legacy of the great empire is still recognizable in the
region today, where local customs and art styles often reflect a strong Luba
influence.

ECONOMY

During the height of its reign, the Luba empire operated on
a complex system of tributes which acted to redistribute wealth throughout the
region. The ruling class had a virtual monopoly on trade items such as salt,
copper, and iron ore, which allowed them to continue their dominance. Most
citizens of the empire relied on slash and burn farming for subsistence. This
was supplemented with fishing and hunting. The importance of hunting was
reinforced by social institutions, which celebrated the fortunes of good
hunters.

POLITICAL SYSTEMS

The Luba empire was characterized by centralized authority
vested in a mulopwe (sacred king). This king enforced his
power through the control of subordinate regional leaders who normally
inherited their status based on their positions within various patriclans.
The mulopwe’s power was reinforced by a royal diviner who was
responsible for formally initiating him into his royal position. Numerous
institutions existed to counterbalance the absolute power of the king. The best
known of these institutions is the Mbudye society, whose members are
responsible for remembering the history of the kingdom and whose
interpretations of history could often influence the actions of active rulers.

RELIGION

The primary religion was based on veneration of the
ancestors and involved paying tribute to the spirits. The Luba royalty
incorporated religious elements into the justification for their rule. Like the
monarchies of western Europe, the position of the Luba king was seen as
divinely inspired and directly correlated with the genesis myth for the people.
As such, the investiture of the king’s power was represented in a complex
coronation ritual involving religious confirmation from a diviner.

FACTS ABOUT Luba

LOCATION

COUNTRIES

Democratic Republic of the Congo

LANGUAGES

Ciluba (central Bantu)

POPULATION

1 million

NEIGHBORING PEOPLES

Chokwe, Ndembu, Kaonde,
Bemba, Tabwa, Hemba, Songye, Lunda