Describe the different civilizations of the Bantu people of Africa.

The word Bantu means Man and all Africans South of the Equator speak languages closely related to the Bantu group of languages.

The Kingdom of Kongo, the Lunda Empire, the Mwenemutepa and the Coastal regions of East Africa together form the Bantu civilizations. The Kongo Kingdom: It arose in the region of Angola. Its administration was centralized and efficient. It did not have a hereditary monarchy, but their kings were considered divine. They owned all the land, but they were elected and their powers were limited by Assemblies of people.

Slavery existed but it had unique features like slaves could not be bought or sold and they could own land.

With the arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th Century, the Kongo kingdom was destroyed by their corrupt methods.

The Lunda Empire: This covered the areas of East Angola and Katanga (in Modern Zaire). Fishing and hunting were popular. Mineral wealth, especially copper, made Katanga rich. The Lunda Empire spoke the language Lunda. Their society was matriarchal, with a popular Assembly that had powers to dethrone even the King. The state was governed by two authorities-(a) Mwata Yamvo or the King and (b) Lukokesha or “Mother of all”. The Mata Yamvo was elected from the sons of the King and Lukokesha from the daughters of the King.

The Mwenemutepa Kingdom: Zimbabwe was the centre of this civilization and Mwenemutepa or Monomotapa was the ruler of this Kingdom. It flourished between thirteenth and eighteenth centuries. It was rich in gold, agriculture and cattle breeding. It is famous for its great stone ruins.

East African Coastal Regions: They were primarily trading centres known to the Greeks of the 1st Century AD. They conducted trade with India and China in gold, ivory and iron. Porcelain was imported from China. Indian swords made from iron were exported to East Africa.

Arab trading settlements greatly influenced the culture of East Africa, especially in the growth of the new language of Swahili, which is an Arabic word meaning ‘of the Coast’. Swahili is a mixture of Arabic and the Bantu language and is still spoken in East Africa.