“The Luba empire was founded in 1585 in the Upemba depression by King Kongolo. His nephew and successor, Kalala Ilunga, rapidly expanded the kingdom to encompass all the territories on the upper left bank of the Lualaba River. At its peak, about one million people, living in several tribes, were paying tribute to the Luba king. At the end of the 19th century, with the advance of the Ovimbudu people from Angola and the raids of the East African Muslim slavers, the empire weakened and, in fact, collapsed when Belgian colonials took control.
With the Assistance of a court of notables, called Bamfumus, the king, known as the Mulopwe, reigned over his subjects through clan kings called Balopwe/ These clan kings could symbolically become the Mulapwe’s son which created client states throughout the empire. A secret society, Bambudye, kept the memory of the Luba empire alive and permeated throughout Luba territory, bonding the diverse populations together. The Luba empire economy was complex – it was based on a tribute system and the redistribution of resources from agriculture, fishing, hunting and mining. The production of salt and iron was under the king’s control.”
Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.
Art from this Tribe
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Timeworn Luba Statue 22.5″ on Custom Base – DRC – African Art
Original price was: $195.00.$48.75Current price is: $48.75.View More -
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Distressed Luba Statue 20.5″ – DR Congo – African Tribal Art
Original price was: $195.00.$97.50Current price is: $97.50.View More -
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Luba/Hemba 3 Figure Lot 23″-30.5″ – DR Congo – African Tribal Art
Original price was: $500.00.$125.00Current price is: $125.00.View More -
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Standing Luba Male Figure 13.75″ – DR Congo – African Tribal Art
Original price was: $240.00.$60.00Current price is: $60.00.View More -
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Luba Figure from DR Congo 12.25″ – African Tribal Art
Original price was: $150.00.$75.00Current price is: $75.00.View More -
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Seated Luba Figure on Base 19″ – DR Congo – African Tribal Art
Original price was: $150.00.$75.00Current price is: $75.00.View More -
Gorgeous Male & Female Luba Stool 16″ – DR Congo – African Tribal Art
$250.00View More -
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Unusual Luba Female Figure 17″ – DR Congo – African Tribal Art
Original price was: $125.00.$62.50Current price is: $62.50.View More