XVᵉ siècle – XIXᵉ siècle
Central Africa, between the Lomami, Lualaba and western Lake Tanganyika
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Luba states and chiefdoms formed a political complex in Central Africa extending between the Lomami, Lualaba and western Lake Tanganyika. Its most prestigious state was ruled by the Mulopwe from a court and capital called kitenta, exercising authority through the bulopwe concept of sacred chiefly power. During the nineteenth century, military competition and commercial pressure from Swahili and Angolan caravans weakened the political superstructure, leaving the constituent states and chiefdoms largely autonomous.
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Le récit
The Luba political world occupied a broad zone between the Lomami, the Lualaba and the western shore of Lake Tanganyika. At its centre stood the most prestigious state of the Mulopwe, whose court and capital, known as kitenta, represented the highest expression of Luba political authority. This authority did not rest solely on territorial administration: it was also embedded in the institution of bulopwe, a chiefly prerogative associated with royal descent.
The legitimacy of bulopwe was traced to the founding figures Kongolo and Kalala Ilunga. Many surrounding chiefdoms already shared this conception of power, allowing the Mulopwe’s military authority to extend over a network of political communities. The arrangement nevertheless depended on the fortunes of competing political families and proved vulnerable to shifts in military strength.
During the reign of Mulopwe Kasongo Kalombo, dated approximately 1870–1880, the political superstructure began to yield to pressure from trading caravans arriving from the Swahili region and Angola. Commercial penetration intensified disputes among political leaders, between chiefs and rival families, and between political authorities and families controlling land and domains. By the end of the period, the Luba states and chiefdoms had become almost entirely autonomous.
XVᵉ siècle – XIXᵉ siècle
Central Africa, between the Lomami, Lualaba and western Lake Tanganyika
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Luba states and chiefdoms formed a political complex in Central Africa extending between the Lomami, Lualaba and western Lake Tanganyika. Its most prestigious state was ruled by the Mulopwe from a court and capital called kitenta, exercising authority through the bulopwe concept of sacred chiefly power. During the nineteenth century, military competition and commercial pressure from Swahili and Angolan caravans weakened the political superstructure, leaving the constituent states and chiefdoms largely autonomous.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
The Luba political world occupied a broad zone between the Lomami, the Lualaba and the western shore of Lake Tanganyika. At its centre stood the most prestigious state of the Mulopwe, whose court and capital, known as kitenta, represented the highest expression of Luba political authority. This authority did not rest solely on territorial administration: it was also embedded in the institution of bulopwe, a chiefly prerogative associated with royal descent.
The legitimacy of bulopwe was traced to the founding figures Kongolo and Kalala Ilunga. Many surrounding chiefdoms already shared this conception of power, allowing the Mulopwe’s military authority to extend over a network of political communities. The arrangement nevertheless depended on the fortunes of competing political families and proved vulnerable to shifts in military strength.
During the reign of Mulopwe Kasongo Kalombo, dated approximately 1870–1880, the political superstructure began to yield to pressure from trading caravans arriving from the Swahili region and Angola. Commercial penetration intensified disputes among political leaders, between chiefs and rival families, and between political authorities and families controlling land and domains. By the end of the period, the Luba states and chiefdoms had become almost entirely autonomous.