Mwene Muji
Mwene Muji | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 1400–c. 1900 | |||||||||||||
 A map of the Kasai River watershed. Mwene Muji controlled the territory around the Lower Kasai, stretching from Lake Mai-Ndombe and Mushie to Idiofa and the Wamba River. | |||||||||||||
| Capital | Mushie | ||||||||||||
| Mwene Muji/Nimi a Maye | |||||||||||||
• c. 1400 | Maluma Biene | ||||||||||||
• c. 1900 | Muba | ||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||
• Established | c. 1400 | ||||||||||||
| Early 17th century | |||||||||||||
• Disestablished | c. 1900 | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Mwene Muji[a] was a polity around Lake Mai-Ndombe in the Congo Basin. Its 'empire' status is pending on further archaeological research.[1] The first written record of Mwene Muji came in 1591 by Italian humanist Filippo Pigafetta.[1]: 30
History
Mwene Muji was formed just after 1400 (going by genealogical records), and it likely expanded along the Lukenie, Kasai, Kamtsha, Kwilu, and Wamba rivers, without venturing much into the interior. It likely had a powerful riverine navy,[b] and dominated trade.[1]: 42–44 At their height, they may have included the territory of Kuba and Pende kingdoms. The Boma Kingdom and Yaka Kingdom broke free in the early 17th century.[1]: 46 Boma took over Mwene Muji's north, while the Yaka took over some southern domains, weakening Mwene Muji.[2] The Jaga who invaded the Kingdom of Kongo in the 16th century are thought to have originated from a province of Mwene Muji.[1]: 32–33
When the steamers of the Congo Free State came into use, Mwene Muji lost their naval supremacy and thus their dominance over trade. Deadly epidemics swept the region in the 1890s, dispersing the population. By the time the Belgians began collecting traditions, the capital Mushie appeared to be a small fishing village and the grand claims of imperial status were swept aside.[1]: 46
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f Thornton, John (2024). "Mwene Muji: A Medieval Empire in Central Africa?". The Journal of African History. 65 (1): 30–46. doi:10.1017/S0021853724000161. ISSN 0021-8537.
- ^ Thornton, John K. (2022-09-19). "New Light on the "Jaga" Episode in the History of Kongo (1567-1608)". Cahiers d'études africaines. 247 (3): 441–459. doi:10.4000/etudesafricaines.38894. ISSN 0008-0055.