World Statesmen.org HOME > return to Congo (Kinshasa) >>



Congo (Kinshasa) Traditional states

Note: It would be nearly impossible to be comprehensive here therefore this record is restricted to some of the historically most important polities. Note that the Kingdom of Kongo is recorded under Angola traditional states its geographical location.

Banyarwanda

1796                       Rwandan refugees establish a kingdom in Congo,
                             kingship alternates between Tutsi and Hutu.
Kings (title Mwami)
1796 - 1850                Natte Rugamba I (Tutsi)
c.1850 - 18..              Kabego (Tutsi)
18.. - ....                Mihigo Ndogosa (Tutsi)
.... - 1918                Nshizirungu (Tutsi)
1918 - 1920                .... [unknown]
1920 - 1962                Daniel Ndeze II (Hutu) (1st time)  (d. 1980)  
                             (chief until 1929) 
1962 - 1967                Ntare Rugamba II (Tutsi)(1st time)
1967 - 1980                Daniel Ndeze II (Hutu)(2nd time)   (s.a.)
1980 - 1994                Ntare Rugamba II (Tutsi)(2nd time)
1994 -                     .... (Hutu)

Basibula

1796                       Spilt from Banyarwanda.
1815/25                    Settled in Idjwi Island.
Kings (title Mwami)
1796 - 18..                Mwendanga  
18.. - 1896                Kabego
1896 - 1928                Mihigo I Ndogosa                   (d. 1928)
1928 - 1933                Ntambuka (1st time)                (d. 1998)
 1933 - 1943                .... [unknown]
1943                       Ntambuka (2nd time)
 1943 - 1960                Muhamirza (acting)
1960 - 1998                Ntambuka (3rd time)                (s.a.)
1998 -                     Roger Ntambuka Mihigo II

Kabare

c.1380                     Shi kingdom of Kabare founded.
1859 - 1899                Capital at Ku-Buntubuzindu.
1899                       Capital moved to Kabare.

Kings (title Mwami Kabare)
c.1657 - ....              Nabushi XX Souau II
.... - ....                Nabushi XXI Mwerwe
17.. - 1760                Nabushi XXII Ngabwe                 (d. 1760)
1760 - 1799                Nabushi XXIII Birhenjira
1799 - c.1809              Nabushi XXIV Bigomokero
c.1809 - c.1859            Nabushi XXV Makombe
 c.1859 - c.1889            Nabushi XXVI Byaterana
1889 - 1919                Nabushi XXVII Rutaganda             (d. 1919)
 1889 - ....                Queen Mugenyi (f) -Regent
1919 - 1936                Nabushi XXVIII Alexander Rugema     (d. 19..) 
1936 - 1958                Nabushi XXIX Albert Kabare
                             Ntayitunda 
1958 - 1959                Nabushi XXX Désiré Kabare
                             Rugemaninzi II (1st time)
1959 - 1979                Nabushi XXXI Alexander Kabare       (d. 1979)
                             Rugemaninzi III    
1979 - 1981                Queen Benedicte Mwa Muhigirwa (f) 
                             (1st time) -Regent
 1981 - 1986                Mami-Mami -Regent
 1986 - 1998                Nabushi XXX Désiré Kabare
                             Rugemaninzi II (2nd time)
1998 - 1999                Queen Benedicte Mwa Muhigirwa (f) 
                             (2nd time)(administrator)
1999 -                     Nabushi XXX Désiré Kabare
                             Rugemaninzi II (3rd time)

Katanga

[Gareganze state]

c.1700                     Gareganze state, also called Katanga, founded.
1880                       Ruler adopts the style mwami (king).
1900                       State extinguished by Belgian colonial authorities, but royalty
                              continues.

Rulers
.... - ....                Kawumbu Sahapepala
.... - 1856                Panda = Sanga
 1856 - 1880                Ngelengwa "Msiri"                  (b. c.1815 - d. 1891)
 Kings (title Mwami)
1880 - 20 Dec 1891         Ngelengwa "Msiri" Shitambi Mwenda I(s.a.)
20 Dec 1891 - 17 Jul 1910  Kalasa Mukanda-Bantu Mwenda II     (b. c.1843 - d. 1910)
 1910 -  7 Apr 1940         Kitanika Mabumba Mushalila         (b. c.1860 - d. 1940)
                             Mwenda III
Apr 1940 - 24 Apr 1956     Munongo Musamfya Ntanga Mwenda IV  (b. c.1875 - d. 1956)
  8 Jul 1956 -  6 Aug 1976  Antonie Munongo Luhinda Shalo      (b. 1905 - d. 1976)
                              Mwenda V
 12 Sep 1976 - 28 May 1992  Godefroid Munongo Shyombeka wa     (b. 1925 - d. 1992)
                             Shalo Mwenda VI 
 1 Aug 1992 - 15 Oct 1997  Christian Munongo Msiri Mwemera    (b. 1955 - d. 1997)
                             Mwenda VII
 4 Jul 1998 -              Mwenda-Bantu Godefroid Munongo, Jr.
                             Mwenda VIII


Kuba kingdom

Note: The polity has of course no official name. The names are given in the currently accepted transcription (without the diacritics and without the distinction between open and closed e and o), together with, in [ ], a common traditional transcription.

c.550                      Legendary date of foundation of the kingdom.
1600                       Kingdom consolidated by Shyaam aMbul aNgoong
                             [Shamba Bolongongo].

Kings (title Nyim [Nyimi])
1776 - 1810                Kot aMbul [Kata Mbula]
1810 - 1840                Miko miMbul [Mikope Mbula]
1840 - 1885                Mbop aMabiinc maMbul [Bope Mobinji]
1885 - 1890                Miko aMabiinc maMbul
                             [Mikope Mobinji]
1890 - 1896                Kot aMbweeky aMileng [Koto Mboke]
1896 - 1900                Misha aPelyeeng [Mishanga Pelenge]
1900                       Miko aPelyeeng [Mikope Pelenge]
1900                       Mbop Pelyeeng II [Bope Pelenge]
1900                       .... [Mingashanga Bake]
1900                       Kot aKyeen [Kwete Kena]
1900 - 1901                Mbop aKyeen [Bope Kena]
1901 - 1902                Miko miKyeen [Mikope Kena]
1902 - 1916                Kot aPe [Kwete Peshanga Kena]
1916 - 1919                Mbop aMabiinc maMbweeky
                             [Bope Mobinji Boke]
1919 - 1939                Kot aMabiinc maKyeen
                             [Kwete Mobinji Kena]
1939 - Sep 1969            Mbop aMabiinc maKyeen
                             [Bope Mobinji Kena]
Sep 1969 -                 Kot aMbweeky aShyaang [Kwete Mboke]


Luba kingdom(s)

1585                       Luba kingdom/empire founded. 
1889                       Ruling lineage split into two ruling lineages: Kasongo-Luba
                             and Kabongo-Luba.

Kings or Emperors (title muLopwe)
.... - ....                Kalala Ilunga (Mwine Munza)
.... - ....                Ilunga Mwila
.... - ....                Kasonga Mwine Kibanza
.... - ....                Kasonga Bunswe
.... - ....                Kasonga Kabundulu
.... - ....                Ngoye Sanza
.... - ....                Kumwinibe Mputu
.... - ....                Ndaye Mwine Nkombe
.... - ....                Kadilo (Kaplio)
.... - ....                Kekenya
1781 - 1809                Ilunga Nsungu                      (d. 1809) 
c.1800                     Kasongo Kukaya (in rebellion) 
1809 - 1837                Kumwimba Ngombe 
1837                       Ndaye Muzinga (usurper) 
1837 - 1864                Ilunga Kabale 
1864 - 1865                Maloba Konkola 
1865 - 1869                Kitamba                            (d. 1869) 
1869 - 1886                Kasongo Kalombo                    (d. 1886) 
1886 - 1889                Nday Mande                         (d. 1889)
- Lineage 1 Kasongo-Luba -
1889 - Oct 1917            Kasongo Ngembo                     (b. 18.. - d. 1931) 
1917 - 1935                Umpafu Ilunga Kumwimba             (d. 1948)
1935 - 1957                Ilunga Kisuku                      (d. 1957) 
1957 - 1963                Ndaye Emanuel
1963 -                     Kisula Ngoye
- Lineage 2 Kabongo-Luba -
1889 - 1948                Kabongo Kumwimba Tshimbu           (d. 1948) 
1948 - 25 Oct 1960         Kabongo Kalowa Boniface            (b. 1905/10 - d. 1960) 
                            (= Ilunga Balowa Boniface, 
                             = Dibwe Kalowa Boniface)
Oct 1960 - c.1980          Kabongo Makassa Dibwe Jacques      (d. c.1980)
c.1980 -                   Kumwimba Kabongo Kanshimbu


Ruund [Luunda]

Note: The same convention about transcription of names as under Kuba applies to this record.

c.1500                     Ruund [Luunda] state founded.
1690                       The ruler adopts the style Mwaant Yaav [Mwaanta Yaava].

Rulers (title Mwaant Yaav [Mwaanta Yaava])
c.1687 - c.1719            Mbal I Yaav
c.1719 - c.1720            Mukas Munying Kabalond 
c.1720 - c.1748            Muteb I Kat Kateng
c.1748 - c.1766            Mukas Waranankong
c.1766 - 1775              Naweej I Mufa Muchimbunj
1775 - 1800                Cikomb Yaav Italesh [Cikombe Yaava]
1800 - 1852                Naweej II a Ditend [Naweeji Yaava 
                             Ditende "Diuta"]
1852 - 1857                Mulaj a Namwan [Mulaji aMbala]
1857                       Cakasekene Naweej
1857 - 1873                Muteb II a Cikomb
                             [Muteba yaCikombe]
1873 - 1874                Mbal II a Kamong Isot [Mbala]      (d. 1874)
1874 - 1883                Mbumb I Muteb a Kat [Mbumba Muteba]
1883 - 1884                Cimbindu a Kasang 
                             [Cimbindu Ditende]
1884 - 1885                Kangapu Naweej [Kangapu Naweeji]   (d. 1885)
1885 - 1886                Mudib [Kibamba Mudiba]             (d. 1886)
1886 - 1887                Mutand Mukaz [Mutanda Mukanza]     (d. 1887)
1887                       Mbal III a Kalong [Mbala Cilombe]
1887 - 1907                Mushid I a Nambing [Mushidi]       (d. 1907)
1907 - 1920                Muteb I a Kasang [Muteba]
                            (in rebellion from 1898)
1920 - 1951                Kaumbw Diur [Kaumba]
1951 - Jun 1963            Yaav a Naweej III [Yaava Naweeji]
1963 - 1965                Mushid II "Lumanga" Kawel a Kamin
                             [Mushidi]
Dec 1965 - 27 Nov 1973     Muteb II Mushid [Muteba Mushidi]
27 Nov 1973 - 1984         Mbumb II Muteb [Mbumba Muteba]     (d. 1984)
1984 - 27 Jan 2005         Kawel II                           (b. 1932? - d. 2005)
28 Jan 2005 -              Mushid III                         (b. 1945)


Kasongo Luunda (Yaka)

c.1700                     Kasongo Luunda state founded. 

Rulers (title Kyambvu)
.... - 1859                Muteeba Kadi (= Muteeba Nzuzi or Mbaala) 
1859 - 1886                Naweesi 
1886 - 1894                Tsiimba Mukuumbi 
1894 - 1902                Lukookisa 
1902 - 1904                Muloombo 
1904 - 1915                Mwaana Koko (Kodi Pwaanga) (1st time) 
1915 - 1922                Mulumbi Mbisi 
1922 - 1925                Kabeya 
1925 - 1929                Bivula (= Bangi) 
1929 - 1939                Mwaana Koko (Kodi Pwaanga) (2nd time) 
1939 - 1941                Kambaamba 
1941 - 1945                Mukulu Désiré 
1945 - 19..                Paandzu Pfumukulu
1974 - 1996                ....
1996 -                     ....


Mangbetu

Note: From c.1873 there are many branches of the dynasty; this record only concerns the
main lineage.

c.1750                     Mangbetu kingship established.
Nov 1881 - 1883            Egyptian occupation.

Rulers (title mkinyi kpokpo)
.... - ....                Orua Ero
.... - ....                Mebula
.... - 1815                Manzika
1815 - 1859                Nabiembali
1859 - 1867                Tuba
1867 - 1873                Mbunza
1873 - 1879                Nesogo
1873 - 27 Dec 1895         Niangara
                            (establishes a separate polity)
1879 - 1881                Mambanga (1st time)
Nov 1881 - 1883            Mbittima (under Egyptian occupation)
1883                       Mambanga (2nd time)
                            (goes on to establish another branch)
1883 - ....                Koi Mbunza

Masisi

Kings (title Mwami)
1940 - 1944                Joseph Bideri
1944 - 1956                Wilfrid Bucyanayandi
c.1956 - c.1959            Andre Kalinda I
1959 -                     Albert Kalinda II 

Ngweshe

Rulers
c.1700                     Kaserere
.... - ....                Weza I
.... - ....                Muyangwa I 
Kings (title Mwami Ngweshe)
.... - ....                Muyangwa II Murhebwa
.... - ....                Bichingat Weza II
.... - ....                Cirhahongerwa
.... - ....                Rugenge I
.... - ....                Cibambo Muyangwa III
.... - 1850's              Cibanvunya Muyangwa IV             (d. 1850's)
1850's - 1860's            Chirimwentale
1860's - 1870's            Kwibuka II
1870's - c.1880            Rugenge II Lushamba
c.1880 - 1892              Lirangwe                           (d. 1892)
1892 - 1922                Ruhongeka                          (d. 1922)
1922 - 1936                Mafundwe Rugema Kabare             (d. 19..)
1936 - 1944                Muhigirwa
1944 - 1953                Birhenjira II Bernadin Muhigirwa   (d. 1953)
1953 - 1966                Pierre Jean-Marie J. Ndatabaye
                             Muhigirwa Weza III (1st time)    (b. 1937/40)
1953 - c.1958              Marie-Astride Naweza (f) -Regent   (b. 1921 - d. 1992)
1966 - 1971                Chief Abraham Lwanwa -Regent
1971 -                     Pierre Jean-Marie J. Ndatabaye     (s.a.)
                             Muhigirwa Weza III (2nd time)



© Ben Cahoon