Bakwa Dishi
Encyclopedia
The Bakwa Dishi is a people belonging to the Luba
Luba people
The Luba are one of the Bantu peoples of Central Africa. They are indigenous to the Katanga, Kasai, and Maniema regions which were historic provinces of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo...

 ethnic group living today in the Kasai-Oriental
Kasai-Oriental
Kasai-Oriental is one of the ten provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It borders the provinces of Kasai-Occidental to the west, Équateur to the northwest, Orientale to the northeast, Maniema to the east, and Katanga to the south. Kasai-Oriental is one of the richest diamond producing...

 Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Miabi
Miabi
Miabi is a territory of the Kasai-Oriental Province in the south-central of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is inhabited by the Bakwa Dishi and the land which is approximately is owned by its royal family....

, the Dishi Capital, is located 16 miles (25.7 km) West of Mbuji-Mayi
Mbuji-Mayi
Mbuji-Mayi serves as the capital of Kasai-Oriental Province in the south-central Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the third largest city in the country, following the capital Kinshasa and second largest city Lubumbashi but ahead of Kisangani and Kananga. The city is the DRC's third-largest,...

. The territory of the Bakwa Dishi lies on approximately 1900 square miles (4,921 km²), which is known as the Miabi territory.

They speak Tshiluba in spite of their history with the Lunda Empire, and their dialect is considered the oldest and purest among the Luba-Kasai.

Origins

The Bakwa Dishi are the direct descendants of Tshibinda Ilunga
Tshibinda Ilunga
Tshibinda Ilunga was a Luba Prince and Emperor of the Lunda and their civilizing hero.- Origins :Tshibinda Ilunga was the son of Ilunga Mbili the warrior, hunter, prophet and Prince who came from East of the Lualaba river and became general of King Kongolo’s army and also helped him establish the...

 Emperor of the Lunda, they come from the Beta Israel
Beta Israel
Beta Israel Israel, Ge'ez: ቤተ እስራኤል - Bēta 'Isrā'ēl, modern Bēte 'Isrā'ēl, EAE: "Betä Ǝsraʾel", "Community of Israel" also known as Ethiopian Jews , are the names of Jewish communities which lived in the area of Aksumite and Ethiopian Empires , nowadays divided between Amhara and Tigray...

 known as the Falashas. Their traditions, rituals and prayers reflect those of the Jews, though they do not study the Torah or the Talmud.

In the 17th century, the Luba Prince Tshibinda Ilunga son of Ilunga Mbili leaves the Luba Empire ruled by his brother Kalala Ilunga
Kalala Ilunga
Kalala Ilunga was one of the emperors of Luba, an empire which spread over the province of Katanga into Zambia and Zimbabwe. Kalala Ilunga was the eldest son of Ilunga Mbili and nephew of King Kongolo Mwamba...

 and marries Queen Naweej of the Lunda. He brings with him the Luba customs (such as the Luba style of ceremonial chieftainship) and culture and religion introduced by his father; and enlarges the Kingdom to become an Empire rivaling his brother, even greatly surpassing him. He extends the empire to the south of current Zambia, east of Angola and south west of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tshibinda Ilunga is crowned Emperor and is praised as a "God-King" or "Anointed One" and civilizing hero.

His son Mwata Mutomb succeeds him and becomes the first Mwata Yamvo
Mwata Yamvo
Mwata Yamvo is the name of the 16th Century founding ruler of the Lunda Kingdom and the title given to all subsequent rulers or paramount chiefs of the Lunda people to the present day...

. Though his father was praised as a civilizing hero; Mwata Mutomb’s authority is disputed by the Lunda who consider him and his family as foreigners. Because of numerous civil wars, he and the rest of the Imperial family are forced to capitulate and thus cut all ties with the Lunda people and begin a migration which Mwata Mutomb leads. At the death of Queen Naweej, it is one of her brother's son who is crowned; he assumes the style and title of Mwata Yamvo which all future Lunda rulers will assumes.

Founding

At the death of Mwata Mutomb, his son Mbuyi Tshitenge succeeded him, then Kamanga Matunlungu, then finally Kafwembe succeeded him in place of his father Mwanza Mukala. At his inauguration Kafwemb chose to carry the title of MBAYI which means prince or Lord in Chilunda. Mbayi Kafwemb
Mbayi Kafwemb
Mbayi Kafwemb was the King and founder of the Bakwa Dishi.He was a direct descendant of the Tshibinda Ilunga, the cilizing hero and founder of the Lunda Empire whose son was the first Mwata Yamvo....

 leads the migration westward and finally settles down around a salted lake named Dishi which is now drained. The descendant of Tshibinda Ilunga took the name of the lake and today they still carry the name of the Bakwa Dishi. It was at the end of the 17th century that Mbayi Kafwemb firmly established the Kingdom of the Bakwa Dishi and was prosperous in the business of salt. Mbayi Kafwemb was a king and prophet known for his great mystical abilities; he ruled to a very old age before his disappearance.

Kingship

The power is transmitted by blood in the Luba culture, but with the Bakwa Dishi in particular, it is transmitted two ways. First by blood, then inside the bloodline, it can be transmitted by wealth. In other words, if one is not a member of the Royal Family he will never be able to rule; but if he is of the Royal Family but is not wealthy he will not be able to rule either. When the King dies, it is either one of his brothers, sons or nephews that can replace him. There is no pre-determined order. It is only their moral and mystical aptitudes as well material capabilities that will determine which one will be chosen by the King as his heir. In the event that the King dies without designating his successor, it is those same aptitudes and conditions that will be taken into account by the members of the Royal Family to designate the heir to the throne.

By moral aptitude, it is understood that the life of a King must be an example. He must be good, just, courageous, and especially showcase a sense of leadership. By mystical aptitude, it is understood that the King has been initiated to different degrees of traditional knowledge. Finally, by material capabilities, it means that the King must have enough riches to take care of his subjects.

Today

The Bakwa Dishi realm is composed of 23 different clans. Each clan is headed by a Chief. Here is the list of the different Bakwa Dishi clans:
  • Mbayi
  • Muyombo
  • Nyandu
  • Mbuyi
  • Tshimuna
  • Kayombo
  • Tshimungu
  • Kalonji
  • Mpemba
  • Ndumbi
  • Kasansa
  • Lukanda
  • Kanda
  • Kaye
  • Mbadi
  • Tshiala
  • Mushingala
  • Mbiya
  • Mulenga
  • Ntembwe
  • Nsumba
  • Mbwanga
  • Lubashi


The ruling clan of the Bakwa Dishi is that of the Bena Mbayi (sons of Mbayi), which is led by the royal family under André-Philippe Futa
André-Philippe Futa
André-Philippe Futa was a politician in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was originally from Miabi in the Congolese province of Kasai Oriental.-Biography:...

. After the death of the Kazadi Diofua, the last King of the Bakwa Dishi; Futa who was the chosen heir was to young to rule. His father and uncles assumed the regency while he continued his studies which eventually took him overseas.

After many years out of the D. R. Congo, Andre-Philippe Futa was called by President Joseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila
Joseph Kabila Kabange is a Congolese politician who has been President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since January 2001. He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila...

 of the Democratic Republic of Congo, hence came back and served in the government and eventually became Minister of Finance. During election 2006, he led the multi-party Alliance of the Presidential Majority
Alliance of the Presidential Majority
The Alliance of the Presidential Majority is a political alliance formed by supporters of President-elect Joseph Kabila following the 2006 general elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This bloc currently holds the majority of seats in the National Assembly with 332 out of 500...

 (French: Alliance pour la majorité présidentielle, AMP) as Coordinator and helped Kabila win the election. He was elected Senator of Kasai Oriental in 2007.

Andre-Philippe Futa Mudiumbula Tshitumbu is planned to be recognized as the traditional ruler and crowned King of the Bakwa Dishi and Miabi.

Family tree of the Bakwa Dishi Royal Family:

1585 Foundation of the Luba Empire with Ilunga Mbili

1600’s Tshibinda Ilunga
Tshibinda Ilunga
Tshibinda Ilunga was a Luba Prince and Emperor of the Lunda and their civilizing hero.- Origins :Tshibinda Ilunga was the son of Ilunga Mbili the warrior, hunter, prophet and Prince who came from East of the Lualaba river and became general of King Kongolo’s army and also helped him establish the...

(Luba Prince and Emperor of the Lunda and brother to Kalala Ilunga Emperor of the Luba)

1600’s Mwata Mutomb (Emperor of the Lunda was the first Mwata Yamvo)

1600’s Mbuyi Tshitenge

1600’s Kamanga Matunlungu

1600’s Mwanza Mukala

Foundation of the Kingdom of the Bakwa Dishi

1600’s Mbayi Kafwemb
Mbayi Kafwemb
Mbayi Kafwemb was the King and founder of the Bakwa Dishi.He was a direct descendant of the Tshibinda Ilunga, the cilizing hero and founder of the Lunda Empire whose son was the first Mwata Yamvo....

(King of the Bakwa Dishi)

1700’s Mulumba Mungedi (Grand Chief of the Bena Mbayi)

1700’s Kalonji (Grand Chief of the Bena Mbayi)

1700’s Diala

1700’s Kalonji Bambakani (Chief of the Bena Mbayi)

1800’s Nsenda Kalubi

1800’s Tshipadi Tshikoni (Grand Chief of the Bena Mbayi)

1800’s Tshipadi Mfuta (Chief of the Bena Mbayi)

1910 Kabongo Mwabilayi (Chief of the Bena Mbayi and regent of the throne of the Bakwa Dishi and brother to Kazadi Diofua King of the Bakwa Dishi)

1943 Mbayi Futa Tshitumbu André-Philippe (Soon to be crowned King of the Bakwa Dishi and Miabi)

Grand Princes of the Bakwa Dishi

1969 Kabongo Mwabilayi Jean-Philippe

1971 Mbuyamba Kalambayi Jean-Juin

1973 Mulumba Mungedi Bashadila Jean-Leon

1976 Kazadi Diofua Jean-Jacques

1980 Mbombo Kalanga Jean-Joseph

1982 Babaka Kankolongo André-Marie

1993 Mvidié Ntambwe Jean-Laurent

Princesses of the Bakwa Dishi

1968 Ntumba Bilema Melanie

1987 Mpunga Carole

1990 Odia Tshiamboya Marie-Madeleine
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