It was a 19th century short-lived state ruled by the infamous Swahili slave trader Tippu Tip (Hamad al Murjebi) and his son Sefu.

The capital of the state was the town of Kasongo, located in modern Maniema Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Tippu Tip's controlled territory reached as far to eastern Kasai and to Aruwimi Basin in the west.

[4] By the mid 19th century, the Arab traders arrived from the parts of the East African coast that were under the control of the Sultanate of Zanzibar.

While the Arab traders were already engaged in important and different trade activities, they continued searching for ivory, gold and slaves.