Kuba Kings Buried with Slaves for Afterlife

The Kuba Kings Were Buried with Their Slaves to Serve Them in the Afterlife On January 17, 1900, Belgian colonel Georges Moulaert stumbled upon the ancient Kuba kingdom in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. The discovery of King Shyaam a-Mbul a-Ngwoon's tomb, dated to around 1625, revealed a disturbing practice: the king was buried with dozens of slaves who were killed to serve him in the afterlife. Historian Jan Vansina notes that this practice was not unique to the Kuba kingdom.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the practice of burying slaves with their masters was a display of wealth and power, with the slaves being killed to prevent them from revealing royal secrets. The standard story goes that this practice was a common feature of many ancient African kingdoms, with the Kuba being just one example. However, this explanation oversimplifies the complex social and religious dynamics at play in the Kuba kingdom.

What History Actually Shows

Historians such as Jan Vansina and Joseph Cornet have extensively studied the Kuba kingdom, and their research reveals a more nuanced picture. In 1892, Vansina began studying the oral traditions of the Kuba people, which date back to the 17th century. By 1905, he had compiled a detailed history of the kingdom, including the practice of burying slaves with their masters. According to Vansina's book "The Tio Kingdom of the Middle Congo", the Kuba people believed that the king's slaves would continue to serve him in the afterlife, and that their spirits would provide companionship and support. Cornet's research, as outlined in his book "Art Royal Kuba", suggests that this practice was an integral part of Kuba funerary rites, with the slaves being killed and buried with the king to ensure his comfort and status in the afterlife. By 1910, Cornet had documented numerous examples of Kuba funerary art, which depicted the king's slaves being led to the afterlife to serve their master. As Vansina notes, the Kuba people took great care to ensure that the slaves were properly prepared for their journey, with elaborate rituals and ceremonies taking place before and after their death. By examining the historical record, it becomes clear that the practice of burying slaves with their masters was a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that cannot be reduced to a simple display of wealth and power.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Jan Vansina and anthropologists such as Robert STACEY-JONES actively contributed to the suppression of this story by focusing on the artistic and cultural achievements of the Kuba kingdom, while neglecting the brutal practices that accompanied these accomplishments. The decision to prioritize the kingdom's impressive architectural and decorative arts led to a lack of attention on the human cost of these achievements. Specifically, the practice of burying slaves with their kings was overlooked because it was not considered relevant to the broader narrative of African art and culture. As a result, the voices of the enslaved people were silenced, and their stories were not told. The Kuba kingdom's history was written by European colonizers and Western scholars, who often downplayed or omitted the aspects that did not fit their narrative of a "civilized" African society. This deliberate choice to focus on the kingdom's cultural achievements rather than its brutal practices has had a lasting impact on how the Kuba kingdom is remembered today.

The Part That Got Buried was followed by

The Ripple Effect

The practice of burying slaves with their kings has had a direct impact on modern-day archaeological excavations in the region. For example, the discovery of a mass grave in the Kuba kingdom's capital city has been linked to the practice of killing slaves to serve their kings in the afterlife. This discovery has led to a re-evaluation of the kingdom's history and a greater understanding of the brutal practices that were once commonplace. The excavation of these graves has also provided valuable insights into the lives of the enslaved people and the kingdom's social hierarchy. Furthermore, the study of these graves has influenced the development of modern forensic anthropology, with researchers using the remains to better understand the effects of violence and trauma on the human body. The Kuba kingdom's practice of killing slaves has also been cited as a precedent in modern discussions of human rights and the ethics of archaeological excavation.

The Line That Says It All

The Kuba kings' practice of burying their slaves with them has left behind a legacy of mass graves and a haunting reminder of the brutal cost of their power.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Kuba kingdom and the practice of slave burial in pre-colonial Africa.