History of Mwata Kazembe Kingdom

Around 1740 the first Mwata, Ng’anga Bilonda of the Luba-Lunda Kingdom headed by Mwata Yamvo left the DR Congo, in pursuit eastwards of Mutenda Yembe Yembe who had murdered his father Chinyanta and uncle by drowning them in the Mukelweji River.

After the death of Ng’anga Bilonda, Kanyembo Mpemba was installed as the second Mwata and was instructed to continue the expansion of the Lunda kingdom. Mwata Yamvo gave Mwata Kanyembo the emblems of a Lunda King which included; a special knife, a staff, a belt, beads, rings, a dress and a cutting of the Mutaba tree which was to be planted at the new capital. After Mutenda had been dealt with, the group continued the eastward migration crossing the Luapula River at Matanda, conquering the indigenous people known as the Shila in the Luapula Valley, and setting up those of noble birth as chiefs over them. After about 20 years of conquest, in about 1760 the first permanent capital was set up at Mwansabombwe and the Mutaba tree was planted. The kingdom prospered from the fisheries of Lake Mweru and the Mofwe Lagoon, and natural resources, including copper ore in Katanga, west of the Luapula.