General Background Information:
The Mbunda are one of the oldest and largest ethnic groups in Southern Africa and the second
largest group in Angola.. The Mbunda refer to many names and have multiple languages depending on
where they live. For instance, they are known as the Kimbundu, Umbundu, Ovimbundu, and
Vambundu, but all our resources state that the Mbunda are originally from the Bantu tribe. They are also
culturally diverse since the Portuguese invasion. Beginning in the 20th century, about 2,420,000 Mbunda
people live in north-central Angola.. This has number increased to four million during the 21st century.
During the Bantu migration from Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Zambia, and Namibia, were the Mbunda.. The Mbunda live in sandy areas with small tributaries and more specifically in tree-studded grasslands in the Bie Plateau of Angola.. They are originally hunters but those who have moved into the plains and waters have adapted to the fisherman and farming lifestyles. Those who worked in farms grew crops such as maize, millette, cassava, palm oil, palm kernels, cotton, coffee and bananas, and herd domesticated animals like cattle and goats. Furthermore, farmers use wide flood plains for grazing cattle and planting crops.
The Mbunda date back to the Mwantiyavwa Dynasty, established in Kola.. They are separated
into three major groups during the Bantu Migration called Ngbaka, Ndongo, and Mbondo. The Migration
led them from the empire of Luba and Ruund to Angola.. In Angola, they discovered a great river called
Lindonga Iya Mbayi meaning The Great River of Mbayi. Most Mbunda live in Mbundaland which is between
the Lungevunga River to the Cuando Cubango Province. Lumbala Nguimbo became their capital. Some
studies state that the Mbundu are related linguistically to the Ovimbundu and culturally to the Kongo.
largest group in Angola.. The Mbunda refer to many names and have multiple languages depending on
where they live. For instance, they are known as the Kimbundu, Umbundu, Ovimbundu, and
Vambundu, but all our resources state that the Mbunda are originally from the Bantu tribe. They are also
culturally diverse since the Portuguese invasion. Beginning in the 20th century, about 2,420,000 Mbunda
people live in north-central Angola.. This has number increased to four million during the 21st century.
During the Bantu migration from Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Zambia, and Namibia, were the Mbunda.. The Mbunda live in sandy areas with small tributaries and more specifically in tree-studded grasslands in the Bie Plateau of Angola.. They are originally hunters but those who have moved into the plains and waters have adapted to the fisherman and farming lifestyles. Those who worked in farms grew crops such as maize, millette, cassava, palm oil, palm kernels, cotton, coffee and bananas, and herd domesticated animals like cattle and goats. Furthermore, farmers use wide flood plains for grazing cattle and planting crops.
The Mbunda date back to the Mwantiyavwa Dynasty, established in Kola.. They are separated
into three major groups during the Bantu Migration called Ngbaka, Ndongo, and Mbondo. The Migration
led them from the empire of Luba and Ruund to Angola.. In Angola, they discovered a great river called
Lindonga Iya Mbayi meaning The Great River of Mbayi. Most Mbunda live in Mbundaland which is between
the Lungevunga River to the Cuando Cubango Province. Lumbala Nguimbo became their capital. Some
studies state that the Mbundu are related linguistically to the Ovimbundu and culturally to the Kongo.