The Lunda are a Bantu group living in the center and southwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with smaller populations in Angola and Zambia. They had strong ties with the Luba, Tchokwe and Jaga until the 17th century, when they separated.

They are known for their rich history, culture and traditions. Historically, the Lunda established a powerful empire in the 17th century, which had great influence in the region until the 19th century. The Lunda empire was well organized, with a centralized political structure and trade networks that extended over great distances.

The Lunda originated in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo along the Calani River and formed the Lunda Kingdom in the 17th century under their ruler, Mwata Yamvo, with its capital at Mussumba. From there they spread widely across Katanga and into Angola, as well as into northwestern Zambia.

The Lunda were allied with the Luba, and their migrations and conquests spawned a number of subgroups, such as the Luvale of the upper Zambezi River and the Cassanje of the upper Kwanga River in Angola. Today the Lunda comprise hundreds of subgroups. Most speak the Lunda language, except for the Kazembe-Lunda who adopted the Bemba language from their neighbors.

The Lunda heartland was rich in natural resources of rivers, lakes, forests, and savannahs. Its people were fishermen and farmers, and they prospered. They cultivated maize, millet, yams, sorghum, squash, beans, sweet potatoes, palm oil, and tobacco. Their traders came into contact with Portuguese, Arab and Swahili traders from East Africa.

The people of the Lunda Kingdom believed in Nzambi as a supreme creator of the world who created all that existed on earth. Their religion did not address Nzambi directly, but rather through the spirits of their ancestors.

The history and culture of the Lunda people are important for understanding the social and political dynamics of south-central Africa, and their legacy continues to influence.