African Kingdoms

Zande (Adamawa-Ubangi) (Africa)

Central African States All African States All Modern States Early Africa (Intro) Egypt

The pre-history of Africa contains a far longer period of human habitation than any other area on Earth, thanks to it being the cradle of humankind's evolution. Much of this pre-history involves a great deal of uncertainty in which small windows of opportunity to view events can be gained through archaeology. Even more recent prehistory is shrouded in uncertainty, requiring analysis and archaeology to help define it.

Central Africa was poorly defined as a region until the creation of colonial-era territories in the eighteenth century. Before that at least parts of it appear to have been virgin territory, with no recent occupation. A collection of sultanates emerged across the area which today is partially covered by Central African Republic (or CAR) and to its north, but prior to that there was a period of almost two centuries of gradual, increasing movement into the area.

These people were generally Adamawa-Ubangi-speaking peoples such as the Banda (or Bandia) and the Zande-Nzakara (or Azande and Nzakara) in eastern CAR. They settled in largely stateless societies without hereditary or paramount chiefs. The Gbaya (including the Mandjia) in the centre and west of CAR, and the riverine peoples along the River Ubangi (or Oubangui) and River Mbomou in the south had no hereditary chiefs either.

They had leaders of different forms such as clan leaders, hamlet headmen, and temporary war chiefs to lead warriors in battle, but no titled rulers with hereditary authority. The Bandia were pushed westwards by Nilo-Hamitic Sudanese peoples, at least partially of the Funj sultanate which faced internal and external disruptions of its own.

Bantu peoples were also arriving from the west, with others approaching from the south. Others still, under pressure from the Ngombe, were arriving from the south-west. More Sudanese joined this melange a little later, driven out by the Shilluk and the Dinka of Bahr-el-Gazal. The initially-dominant Vou-Kpata were related to these two groups.

The local groups reacted slowly to such changes by forming their own states. By about 1700s Bandia people had formed a tribal state from the Mongbandi or Ngbandi grouping. This was located along the River Ubangi in the form of the Bandia of the Ubangi. Farther east, more Bandia intermixed with Zande groups to form the Bandia of the Chinko, while the state of Djabir to its east was also largely driven by Bandia folk.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by Richard A Bradshaw & Juan Fandos-Rius, by Doctor Jean Kokide (University of Bangui), from Monographie du Dar-Kouti-Oriental, Edmond A J Boucher (Typescript, 1934, copied and updated from the original by Pierre Claustre), from Dar al-Kuti and the Last Years of the Trans-Saharan Slave Trade, Denis D Cordell (The University of Wisconsin Press, 1985), from Un ancien royaume Bandia du Haut-Oubangui, Eric de Dampierre (Plon, Paris, 1967), from Central African Republic, Pierre Kalck (Praeger Publishers, 1971), from Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic, Pierre Kalck( Third Edition, Scarecrow Press, 2005), from Un explorateur du centre de l'Afrique, Paul Crampel (1864-1891), Pierre Kalck (L'Harmattan, Paris, 1993), from The New Atlas of African History, G S P Freeman-Grenville (Rex Collins, London, 1991), from Times Atlas of World History (Maplewood, 1979), and from External Links: Encyclopaedia Britannica, and Central African Republic (World Statesmen), and Anne Retel-Laurentin et les Nzakara, Jean-Noël Biraben (Cahiers d'Études Africaines, Vol 27, Notebook 105/106, Démographie Historique, 1987, pp 187-197, and available via JSTOR).)

late 1700s

Ngoura lives at the end of the eighteenth century, potentially as one of the first major clan chiefs of the Zande people in their new homeland in what is now Central African Republic (or CAR). His death is believed to occur around 1800.

c.1760

Around this time the Bandia under Ngoubéngué conquer a significant amount of territory between Ouellé and Mbomou. They organise various conquests and enter Zande territory, subduing the Vungara clan as they do so.

Along with the Bandia, the Zande, the Nzakara, the Bati, the Benge, and the Mbudjaare were all producers of small but highly-recognisable wicker shields which carried elaborate handle boards

? - c.1800

Zande ancestor figure and founder of the Zande nation.

c.1800

Ngoura is the great conqueror and founder of the Zande nation, fighting the Bandia and managing to demarcate zones of influence between the two major local groups. The Zande move eastwards, expanding their holdings as far north as what is now Democratic Republic of Congo. The Bandia edge westwards to the M'Bomou.

On the Bandia side, the great chief Lezian or Louzian is married to a daughter of Ngoura. He represents an ancestor of the dynasty which later develops around Rafaï. Ngoura himself is murdered by Lezian after Ngoura's daughter is accused of engaging in incestuous relations with her brother, Tombo, during a visit home.

Bangui lies on the northern banks of the River Ubangi shown here, which serves in part to divide the modern states of Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo, but in the eighteenth century was the home of several clan states

c.1800 - 1860

Ngoura's four sons are Mabengue, Tombo, Pereka, and Singo. Along with his grandson, Nounga, they continue his work by conquering the M'Bomou between about 1800 and 1860 but they also expand greatly towards and into what is now South Sudan.

fl c.1800

Son. Expanded Zande territory into South Sudan.

c.1800s

While claiming a clan state of his own, Mabengue is also responsible for the eventual formation of a cadet branch which results in Ligwa. This spreads chiefs throughout the upper M'Bomou region from Tambura, all of whom retain links to Vungara and the various other branches. Both Mabengue and Tombo are later revered for their establishment of Zande holdings in today's South Sudan.

Today's landlocked country of South Sudan has witnessed a twentieth century colonial period which was preceded by intense regional rivalries and clan state creation, notably by the Mahdists and the Zande people

fl c.1800

Brother. Expanded Zande territory into South Sudan.

fl c.1800

Brother.

fl c.1800

Brother.

? - c.1835

Grandson of Ngoura. First confirmed chief of Vungara.

before c.1835

Nounga is a Zande chief of the Vungara clan. His domains stretch north into today's Mbomou prefecture in the Central African Republic, and to the south of the River Mbomou in today's Congo Democratic Republic. His territory forms a clan state which carries the clan's name of Vungara.