Kuba Belt with Cowrie Shells Congo

The Kuba people are an ethnic group who migrated from the distant north to their present-day location along the Sankuru River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This migration is believed to have taken place in the 16th century. Upon their arrival in the region, the Kuba encountered the Twa people who were already living there. Over time, the Kuba Kingdom expanded its influence and eventually absorbed the Twa into its society. Despite the assimilation, the Twa retained some distinct cultural characteristics within the Kuba Kingdom. The Kuba Kingdom reached its peak during the mid-19th century when it had a highly developed political and artistic culture. European contact with the Kuba people occurred in 1884 when explorers and colonial powers started to establish a presence in the region. However, due to their relatively isolated location, the Kuba people were not as heavily affected by the transatlantic slave trade as some other ethnic groups in the area. During the