The Mbundu tribe, is an ethnic group of Bantu people residing by the North-west of Angola, the North of river Kwanza. They are one of the largest tribes in Angola.
They are said to have a great number of them in Bengo, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, and Malanje district. Ngola is said to be the capital of the kingdom.
The Mbudu are also called ‘Ambundu‘ with Kimbundu as their language; a family of the Bantu language family, although Portuguese remains their official language.
They were said to have come from North Africa around the 16th century and were both farmers and traders who transacted with the San and the Pygmies.
They operate matrilineal system.
The name ‘Mbundu’ was first heard from the Bakongo tribes before being claimed by the Mbundu. The Kongo tribe made part of Mbundu land theirs and converted it to their MPemba province. He also made MBanza his capital while Mbundu Matamba was converted to Kongo’s vassal. The Kongo people also claimed NDongo and Kisama, close to river Kwanza.
Mbundu people were living in a great economy till the Portuguese trader’s in the then Angola crashed their economy; they lost their lands to the Portuguese and were forced into farm labors such as producing only cash and export crops.
They depend on foods like; cassava, millet, corn, rice, beans, sorghum wheat, and so on, for their consumption. They also have meats, chickens, fresh, and saltwater fish. Among the tribe’s favorite food Cabidela – rice and cassava dough with chicken blood.
The Mbundu believe in witchcraft and sorcery. They have diviners whom they so much believe is the mouthpiece of the gods and the ancestors, they are called ‘The Kimbanda’. They are believed to possess great knowledge of herbs and can heal, and have the ability to communicate with the spirits and the ancestors.
According to the Mbundu, the lack of connection with the spirit of their dead ancestors might affect them so they would great to the practice of an ancestral worships.
They mostly dress like Westerns. The use of Western outfits is common among them aside when there was a special occasion that is when they go mainly on their traditional attire.