| Conventional Long Name: | Mbunda Kingdom |
| Native Name: | Chiundi ca Mbunda or Vumwene vwa Chiundi--> |
| Native Name: | Portuguese: Reino Mbunda (Portuguese) Chiundi ca Mbunda (Mbunda) |
| Common Name: | Mbunda |
| Status: | Sovereign kingdom (1500–1917) |
| Year Start: | 1500 |
| Year End: | 1917 |
| Event3 End: | --> |
| Event End: | Annexed by the Portuguese |
| Image Flag2: | Flag of the Mbunda Kingdom.svg |
| Flag Type: | Flag |
| Capital: | Lumbala N'guimbo |
| Common Languages: | Mbunda language Portuguese |
| Ethnic Groups: | Mbunda people |
| Government Type: | Absolute monarchy with autonomous regions |
| Title Leader: | King |
| Leader1: | Mwene Mbandu Lyonthzi Kapova |
| Year Leader1: | –1914 |
| Leader2: | Mwene Mbandu II Kathzungo Shanda |
| Year Leader2: | 1914–1917 |
| Event1: | Mwene Mbandu Lyonthzi Kapova captured by the Portuguese |
| Date Event1: | 1914 |
| Event2: | Kolongongo War |
| Date Event2: | 1914 |
| Religion: | Christianity with some traditional practices |
| Currency: | Traded in bee wax, ivory and rubber, in exchange with guns and cloth material |
| P1: | Kingdom of Ndongo |
| S1: | Portuguese Angola |
| Flag S1: | Flag of Portugal.svg |
The Mbunda Kingdom (Mbunda: Chiundi ca Mbunda or Vumwene vwa Chiundi or), sometimes called the Kingdom of Angola or Mbundaland, was an African kingdom located in western central Africa, in what is now southeast Angola. At its greatest extent, it reached from Mithimoyi in central Moxico to the Cuando Cubango Province in the southeast, bordering Namibia.[1]
The Mbunda Kingdom used a traditional rule system similar to other nations of its era. The entire kingdom was ruled by one king who has come from a royal family. The king exercised absolute authority so their decision was carried out without question. The king's role was to legislate the laws and govern the communities. The king ruled the whole kingdom, however, the small chiefdoms and localities within the kingdom were also able to legislate their own laws.
The Mbunda tribe left what is now South Sudan around the year 1400 due to a poor climate. They began to move through many areas looking for red sand due to it being similar to their original home in South Sudan. They reached what is now present-day Zambia and Angola, when they established a kingdom.[2]
The kingdom began to expand southward around the time of their twelfth and thirteenth monarchs (Kathangila ka Mukenge and Yambayamba Kapanda). As they continued to expand southward, they arrived at the Lungwebungu River, and soon after they set Lumbala N'guimbo as their capital city. They also expanded into what is now Zambia, which was later taken away when the colonial borders were drawn.[3]
The Mbunda and the Chokwe began fighting because it was believed the Chokwe assassinated King Mwene Katavola I Mwechela. His successor, Mwene Katavola II Musangu, was suspected of plotting his assassination. Mwene Katavola II Musangu later tried to marry a Chokwe slave named Nyakoma who was owned by the Chokwe Chief Mwa Mushilinjinji, who denied Mwene Katavola II Musangu to marry Nyakoma at Luwe. Because of this, the kingdom declared war on the Chokwe Chiefdom to rid them of the Mbunda's land. The war went in favour of the Mbunda and the Chokwe were conquered.[3]
In 1830, the Mbunda began to fight alongside the Aluyi in a war between the Aluyi and the Makololo. With the help of the Mbunda Kingdom, the Aluyi won the war and the Mbunda began to occupy Barotseland.[3]
Mwene Mbandu I Lyondthzi Kapova led the Mbunda in a war against the Luvale around 1890 because the Luvale were against a powerful, independent Mbunda and they wanted Mbunda slaves. The Luvale lost the war when their leader, Masambo, was killed and were soon driven out of Mbunda.[3]
The Mbunda also fought alongside the Aluyi in 1880 in the Aluyi war against the Tonga. The Tonga were not able to defend against the Mbunda's bow and arrows and were unable to win the war. In 1893 a treaty was signed between the Mbunda and the Aluyi which stated that they would be allies. After this treaty, things became more peaceful and the Mbunda began to focus on harvesting cassava, maize and rice. Soon after the arrival of the IECA in 1880, a large majority of the Mbunda population was converted to Christianity.[3]
thumb|right|King Mwene Mbandu Lyonthzi Kapova I|150pxPortugal declared war on the kingdom in 1914 in the Kolongongo War, where the Portuguese captured their king, Mwene Mbandu Lyonthzi Kapova. Portugal ultimately conquered the kingdom in 1917,[4] [5] [6] although the monarchy still lives on within Angola today.
The Mbunda were skilled iron and copper workers, as well as hunters and fishermen. They used bows and arrows to hunt medium-sized animals. To fish it was common to use nets or baskets. The nets were most commonly used by men and the baskets were used by women. The Mbunda farmed sugar and other crops along with cattle.[3]