Kuba Kingdom

Kingdom of Bakuba
Kuba
1625–1884
Map of the Kuba Kingdom, Lunda Empire and Luba kingdoms in the Congo River Basin.
Map of the Kuba Kingdom, Lunda Empire and Luba kingdoms in the Congo River Basin.
Official languagesBushong
GovernmentMonarchy
Nyim 
• 1625
Shyaam a-Mbul a Ngoong
History 
• Established
1625
• Disestablished
1884
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Bushong culture
International Association of the Congo
Today part ofDemocratic Republic of Congo
A contemporary Mwaash aMbooy mask, representing Woot, the mythical founder of the Kuba Kingdom

The Kuba Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of the Bakuba or Bushongo, is a traditional kingdom in Central Africa. The Kuba Kingdom flourished between the 17th and 19th centuries in the region bordered by the Sankuru, Lulua, and Kasai rivers in the heart of the modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Kuba Kingdom was a conglomerate of several smaller Bushong-speaking principalities as well as the Kete, Coofa, Mbeengi, and the Kasai Twa Pygmies. The original Kuba migrated during the 16th century from the north. Nineteen different ethnic groups are included in the kingdom, which still exists and is presided over by the King (nyim).