Ilunga Sungu

Ilunga Sungu (died c. 1810) was a ruler (Mulopwe) of the Kingdom of Luba in what is now the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said to have reigned from about 1780 to his death.

[4] He established his court at Katende, southwest of Lake Boya and 25 kilometres (16 mi) to the west of the Mashyo salt district of the Luba heartland.

Previously the Luba kings had built their palaces northeast of Lake Boya, but the move to Katende set a precedent for locating the capital near the Mashyo resource that was followed by Ilunga Sungu's successors.

[5] Later he established a second residence at Kipushya village 200 kilometres (120 mi) to the east in the upper Luvidjo River valley, in the iron-producing region of Kilulwe.

[9] According to legend, the town of Katende had become so large that the "Lord of Hygiene" could not keep the streets clear of refuse and excrement, even working all day with the help of his sons and relatives.

[15] The Hemba fire kingdom in the east cut its links to the Luba empire after Ilunga Sungu died.