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Congo (Kinshasa) Traditional states

States: Banyarwanda - Basibula - Buhavu - Kabare - Kasongo Luunda (Yaka) - Katanga (Gareganze) - Kuba - Luba - Mangbetu - Masisi - Ngweshe - Ruund [Luunda] - Vira -

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.
1885 - 1951                Part of administrative entity called Territoire des Bahutu
                             under Belgian colonial rule.

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 Rugabo II (Hutu)
    (b. 1885 - d. 1980)  
                             (chief until 1929)(1st time) 
1962 - 1967                Ntare Rugamba II (Tutsi)(1st time)
1967 - 31 Mar 1980         Daniel Ndeze Rugabo II
(Hutu)    (s.a.)
                             (2nd time) 
1980 - 1994                Ntare Rugamba II
(Tutsi)(2nd time)
1994 - 1998                René Irivuzumwami Ndeze II       (b. 1923 - d. 2007)
                             (Hutu)
1998 - 30 Apr 2009         Paul Ndeze (interim) (Hutu)
30 Apr 2009 - Aug 2016     Ndeze III Mutarambirwa Dieudonné (b. 1944 - d. 2016)
                             (Hutu)
2016 - Mar 2020            Ndeze IV Ndizeye Francis (Hutu)  (b. 1973)
15 Mar 2020 -              Jean-Baptiste Ndeze Rekaturebe
                             (provisional to May 2020)


Basibula

1796                       Split 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


Buhavu


....                       Buhavu kingdom under Sibula dynasty.

19..                       Rwandese administration.

Kings
(Mwami)
.... - ....                Nsibula I ya Nyibunga
.... - ....                Mbera eri Maza Nsibula II
                             ya Niebutatire
.... - ....                Bihako Bamanyirwe II
c.1800                     Lukara Kamarogosa I
.... - ....                Ntale I
.... - ....                Nsibula III Kihunga (Bahole I)
.... - ....                Mpaka ya Lushasha
.... - ....                Ntale II Basumbire
.... - ....                Bamenyirew III (Lushombo)          (d. 1928)
.... - ....                Muhirwa (Bahole II)                (d. 1942)
.... - 19..                Kamarogosa II (Kamerokosa)         (d. 1960)
.... - Apr 2004            Ntale Hamuli Kamirogosa II         (d. 2004)
Apr 2004 -                 Kamirogosa III Shosho Ntale        (b. 1981)
                             Franck


Kabare

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

Kings (title Mwami Nabushi Kabare)

.... - ....                Nabushi I Kabare Ngabwe [1st ruler]
.... - ....                Nabushi II Kakome
.... - ....                Nabushi III Souau I
.... - ....                Nabushi IV Chilembebwa I
c.1657 - ....              Nabushi V Nshuliludjo
.... - ....                Nabushi VI Souau II
.... - ....                Nabushi VII Namuhoye
.... - ....                Nabushi VIII Kabare-Kaganda
.... - ....                Nabushi IX Lushuli-Ludjo
.... - ....                Nabushi X Kamome
.... - ....                Nabushi XI Chifunda-Ngombe
.... - ....                Nabushi XII Chilembebwa II
.... - ....                Nabushi XIII Badahakana
.... - ....                Nabushi XIV Ngabwe I
.... - ....                Nabushi XV Kamahaha
.... - ....                Nabushi XVI Ngabwe II
.... - ....                Nabushi XVII Lukubi
.... - ....                Nabushi XVIII Mushimbi
.... - 1760                Nabushi XIX Mwerwe                  (d. 1760)
1760 - 1799                Nabushi XX Birhenjira
1799 - c.1809              Nabushi XXI Buhongera
c.1809 - 1859              Nabushi XXII Makombe                (d. 1859)
1859 - 1889                Nabushi XXIII Byaterana
1889 - 1919                Nabushi XXIV Rutaganda              (d. 1919)
1889 - 1892                Mugenyi (f) -Regent
1919 - 1936                Nabushi XXV Alexander Rugema   
1936 - 1979                Nabushi XXVI Albert Kabare          (d. 1979)
                             Ntayitunda I 
1979                       Nabushi XXVII Alexandre Kabare      (d. 1979)
                             Rugemaninzi I
1979 - 1990                Benedicte Mwa Muhigirwa -Regent
                             (1st time)
1981 - 1986                Nabushi XXVIII Mamimami (disputed)
1986 - 1990                Nabushi XXIX Albert Kabare
                             Ntayitundi II (disputed)
1990 - Feb 1998            Nabushi XXX Désiré Kabare           (b. 1958 - d. 2024)
                             Rugemaninzi II (1st time)
Feb 1998 - 1999            Benedicte Mwa Muhigirwa
                             (2nd time)(administrator)
1999 - 27 Jul 2024         Nabushi XXX Désiré Kabare           (s.a.)
                             Rugemaninzi II (2nd time)
17 Aug 2024 -              Nabushi XXX Alexandre Kabare        (b. 1995?)
                             Rugemaninzi III


Katanga

[Gareganze state, Katanga
                (Congo-Kinshasa)]

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 -              Kaneranera 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
                             [
Muteb II Mushid e]



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 - 1964                Kasongo a Nyembo (Ndaye Emanuel)
1964 - 2018                Kisula Ngoy                        (b. 1940 - d. 2018)
- Lineage 2 Kabongo-Luba -
1889 - 1946                Kabongo Kumwimba Tshimbu           (d. 1946) 
1946 - 25 Oct 1960         Kabongo Kalowa Boniface            (b. 1905/10 - d. 1960) 
                            (= Ilunga Balowa Boniface) 
                            (= Dibwe Kalowa Boniface)
Oct 1960 - 198.            Kabongo Makassa Dibwe              (b. .... - d. 198.)
c.1980 - c.20..            Kumwimba Kabongo Kansh'imbu
15 Jul 2017 -              Diambi Kabatusuila Tshiyoyo        (b. c.1970)  
                             Muata (f)           



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 Mwaantaangaand)
c.1500 - c.1516            Mwaaka
c.1516 - c.1550            Yala Maaku
c.1550 - c.1590            Kunde
                             [perhaps a double for the next ruler]
c.1590 - c.1620            Nkonda Matit
c.1620 - c.1630            Cibind Yirung
c.1630 - c.1660            Yaav I a Yirung (or Naweej)
c.1660 - c.1687            Yaav II a Nawej
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]       (b. 18.. - 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 = 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 (Bahunde)

....                       Bunyungu kingdom
1920                       Bahunde chiefdom formed in Masiisi territory.

Chiefs (title Mwami)
.... - ....                Mupfunyi
.... - ....                Mitheghetso
.... - ....                Batwa Mahindule
.... - ....                Kalinda Bigathi
.... - ....                Bighiri I Shalukoo
.... - ....                Mupfunyi Batwa I
.... - ....                Kalinda Shabarondo
.... - ....                Kalinda Shamahwa
.... - 1922                Biiri Lukeba                     (d. 1922)
1923 - 1979                André Kalinda V Muteso           (b. 1904 - d 1979)
                             Kyabukuye
1979 - 1980                Abbassi (interim)
1980 - 1986                Albert
Kalinda VI Mupfuni Wa     (d. 1986)
                             Shalukoo

1987 - 1996               
Gustave Kalinda VII Ndandu
1996 -                     Nicolas Kalinda VIII Kibancha
                             (interim to 2002)


Ngweshe

Kings (title Mwami Ngweshe)
.... - ....                Ngweshe I (= Ngweshe-Bagweshe)
.... - ....                Ngweshe II Muhive
.... - ....                Ngweshe III Kwibuka I
.... - ....                Ngweshe IV Kaserere
.... - ....                Ngweshe V Weza (= Birhenjira I)
.... - c.1850              Ngweshe VI Bichinga (= Rugenge I)  (d. c.1850)
c.1850 - c.1860            Ngweshe VII Chirimwentale
c.1860 - 1863              Ngweshe VIII Kwibuka II            (d. 1863)
1863 - 1889                Ngweshe IX Rugenge II              (d. 1889)
1889 - c.1890              Ngweshe X Lushamba
c.1890 - c.1892            Ngweshe XI Lirangwe                (d. 1892)
c.1892 - 1913?             Ngweshe XII Ruhongeka              (d. 1913)
1913 - 1938                Ngweshe XIII Mafundwe              (d. 1938)
1938 - 1943                Ngweshe XIV Muhigirwa              (d. 1943)
1944 - 1953                Birhenjira II Bernadin Muhigirwa   (d. 1953)
1953 - 1966                Ngweshe XV Pierre Jean-Marie J.    (b. 1937/40)
                             Ndatabaye Muhigirwa Weza III
                             (1st time)                 
1953 - c.1958              Marie-Astride Naweza (f) -Regent   (b. 1921 - d. 1993)
1966 - 1971                Abraham Lwanwa -Regent
1971 -                     Ngweshe XV Pierre Jean-Marie J.    (s.a.)
                             Ndatabaye Muhigirwa Weza III
                             (2nd time)



Vira (Bavira)

1645                       Vira (Bavira) kingdom founded under the BeneLenghe dynasty.

Rulers (title Mwami)
1645 - 1670                Lenghe (or Lenghe I Ilunga)
1671 - 1709                Mubila Munanila (or Mubila Munana)
1709 - 1735                Kibwe Mabingo
1735 - 1763                Muluta I Kibwe
1763 - 1798                Kinyunda Kye Lugongo
1798 - 1830                Mbuti II Lenge
1830 - 1871                Muluta II Muvuluma
1871 - 1897                Nambuza Mukangwa
1898 - 1932                Muluta III Nakumika
1932 - 1945                Lenghe II Kabale Mamboto Lwegeleza
1945 - 1964                Lwegeleza I Kabale Mamboto
1965 - 26 Oct 1996         Lenghe III Kabale Rugaza Rampan    (d. 1996)
                             Romain Geslin
1997 -                     Lwegeleza III Lenghe Edmond




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