History is not just about dates and
times. It is a reference to who we are as a people. This is especially true for
the several tribes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although the area
has been occupied for at least the past 80,000 years much of the known
historical facts come in the last 1000 years or so. The Bantu kingdom once
ruled the area around the 7century AD. Which left the languages amongst the
various tribes very similar. The area
was fragmented into various ethnic groups ruled by separate chiefdoms. The Kuba
Kingdom, largest of all the kingdoms in central sub- Sahara Africa, united all
the chiefdoms under Shyaam aMbul aNgoong who ruled around 1625. The Kuba
believe in that they were created by the Sky Father MBoom. And he also created
everything in nature and all the stars and planets. He also had a son named Woot
who names each human being, animals, and planet. From Woot and his sons they
learned culture, farming, tool making, as well as life and death. Woot’s mother
also gave humans the art of mat weaving. All the skills they needed to survive
in daily life are taught in their creation myth. Told orally generation after
generation. In the Kuba Kingdom select members of the king’s court keep the
history of the people. They ensure it is respected, maintained, and passed on.
They know all the stories and songs and teach them to others. The king and his
eldest son and a woman are the main keepers of the history. The king performs a
song and dance based on the creation story He wears a mask and uniform that is
to represent Woot. The history for these people is more than just knowing what
happened before, it is what their culture is based on. Through ornaments,
wooden carvings, and textiles passed on from ancestors they prove linages for
kings and chiefs. Through storytelling, music, and song these people keep the
historical cultures of their tribe alive and relevant today. Just as the
stories of the bible to teach lessons relevant to today’s situations the tribes
of the Congo area did the same with song, and dance. Some tribes use art
objects to show linage and kinship to gain prestige and position. Some tribes
use mask to represent their gods or other deities during songs, dances, and
other rituals. To the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo their
history is their way of life.
References
Berniell-Lee*, G. (2009). Genetic and Demographic
Implications of the Bantu Expansion: Insights from Human Paternal Lineages. Oxford
Journals.
Claes, D. (2011). MANGBETU. Retrieved 05 17,
2015, from BRUNOCLASSENS:
http://www.brunoclaessens.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Mangbetu-Bruno-Claessens-2011.pdf
Denis, A. (1934-35, 01). American Museum CONGO
EXPEDITION. (Armand Denis Productions Inc) Retrieved 05 17, 2015, from
AMERICAN MUSEM & NATURAL HISTORY:
http://diglib1.amnh.org/galleries/congo_sounds/congo_sounds.html
Humanities. (n.d.). Humanities Kuba.
Retrieved from Swarthmore College Humanities department:
http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/pschmid1/kuba.html
Ph.D., R. L. (1998). Kuba: The Heritage Library
of African Peoples. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group.
Wikipedia. (2015, May 18). Kuba Kingdom.
Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuba_Kingdom
