LUEJI
allyHero
Lueji A'Nkonde, also written Lweji or Rweej, is a queen of the Lunda, at once a historical and legendary figure of Central Africa, active around the seventeenth century. Daughter of the sovereign Nkonde Matete, she receives from her father the royal bracelet of power, the lukano, which makes her the legitimate heir at the expense of her brothers. She marries Chibinda Ilunga, a hunter prince come from the neighbouring Luba kingdom. This union with a foreigner provokes sharp dissensions within the Lunda aristocracy and leads to the division of the kingdom into several entities, including the Lunda, Chokwe and Ndembu branches. Her reign is associated with the apogee and the expansion of the Lunda empire. Her memory remains very much alive in Angola and in the region, where she embodies feminine kingship.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
Voice of its pantheon. LUEJI carries the memory of its tradition and weaves a thread into the Mabioni. Bound to the Lunda pantheon.
Sacred Mask
An ancient ritual mask of sacred wood, old metal and black stone, engraved with symbols of queen, embodiment of the power of Lueji
Era
Ancient cycle
Frequently asked questions
Who was Lueji?
A queen of the Lunda, heir to power thanks to the royal bracelet handed down by her father, and a central figure of the foundation of the Lunda empire.
Why did her marriage cause a problem?
She married Chibinda Ilunga, a foreign Luba hunter prince. According to the Lunda traditions, a queen could not marry a foreigner, which provoked grave divisions and the partition of the kingdom.
Is Lueji a historical or a legendary character?
Both. She is attached to events of the seventeenth century while being strongly mythified in the Lunda and Chokwe oral tradition, notably in Angola.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- Wikipedia (PT), Lueji A'Nkonde
- Wikipedia (EN), Tshibinda Ilunga (époux)