Chokwe

During the 15th century, a Lunda queen married a Luba prince called Tshibinda Ilunga. A significant number of the Lunda aristocracy so disapproved of the marriage that they migrated south to present day Angola. Once settled, they founded several kingdoms, each headed by a god king. These tribes are now known as the Chokwe, the Luena, the Songo, the Imbagala, and the Ovimbudu. Around 1860, following a major famine, the Chokwe people migrated back towards the south and settled in Angola, at the source of the Kwango, Kasai, and Lungwe rivers. The Chokwe are governed by a king called Mwana Ngana, who distributes hunting grounds and cultivated areas; while the male Mugonge and female Ukule societies regulate their social life.

The vast majority of Chokwe objects are decorated with figures and geometric motifs. Since the Chokwe tribes people were in contact with European tradesmen from the 18th century onwards, some of their figures bear a European influence.