Luba-Hemba

The Luba-Hemba are a Bantu-speaking people primarily residing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They are part of a larger Luba cluster, sharing related languages and cultural traits, and have a historical connection to the Luba empire, which thrived from the late 15th to the late 19th century.1

The Luba people are known for their agricultural practices, including cultivating cassava and corn, and for their fishing. They are also renowned wood-carvers, creating anthropomorphic figures, ceremonial axes, and headrests. Their rich oral literature includes epic cycles and origin stories that distinguish between tyrannical and benevolent rulers, reflecting values of good governance and moral character. The Luba religion emphasizes a Supreme Being, spirits, and ancestors, with a core concept of bumuntu, or genuine personhood, linked to a good heart and dignity.1