African Kingdoms

Vungara (Zande Clan State) (Africa)

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The pre-history of Africa covers a long and uncertain stretch of unrecorded history. Much of this involves a great deal of uncertainty which can only be understood through archaeology. Even the 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), as well as Chad to its north and the edges of South Sudan to the east. Prior to that there were 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. By about 1700s Bandia people had formed a tribal state from the Mongbandi or Ngbandi grouping 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.

Equivalent Zande-speaking groups to the east had largely arrived from Sudan and the Chad basin to the north and east. These crystallised in the form of Mbomu people who soon created the Vungara clan state (otherwise shown as Avungarara in English, or Voungara in French-language sources). Like the Bandia states, they imposed themselves on the various minor groups which surrounded them while also absorbing a melange of traditions and cultural influences.

Founded by Nounga, a member of a Zande clan which was known as the Vungara, this group commanded domains which stretched north (into the modern Mbomou prefecture), and to the south of the River Mbomou (in the modern Congo Democratic Republic). Nounga's Vungara state was largely responsible for founding a spate of successor entities which included Ezo, Malingindo, Mopoï or Tamboura, Sasa, Wando, Yambio, and the sultanate of Zémio.

(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).)

? - c.1835

Zande successor. First confirmed chief of Vungara.

before c.1835

Nounga is a Zande chief of the Vungara clan. His domains eventually 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. His royal court is initially established on the north bank of the Mbomou.

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.1835 - 1850s?

Son? Died 1858. Expanded state. Had 51 children.

1858 - 1875

In the late 1700s and through the 1800s Zande clan warriors of Vungara move into the Mbomou basin, initially under the leadership of Nounga but with that work being continued by Zangabiro and/or Tikima.

Either in 1858 or 1875 under one or the other of those successors, Bantu groups there are subdued on both banks of the river, notably the Bassiri, Bili, and Karé. Then Nilotic groups are similarly subdued: the Gabou, Togbo, and Gbaya-Razia.

Central Africa in 1897 was a land of uncertain, shifting borders, with small states expanding to incorporate previously stateless tribal societies (click or tap on map to view full sized)

bef 1855 - c.1872

Son. Expanded state.

c.1872 - 1892

Son. Died 12 October 1912 as first sultan of Zémio.

1892 - 1894

Zémio is recognised as sultan of his Zande Vungara clan state in 1892. He does a remarkable amount of reorganising to turn it into a modern regional sultanate. It becomes part of a Belgian Congo protectorate from 1892, marking its acceptance by the European colonial powers as the sultanate of Zémio.