Lunda Houses (1854)

These are illustrations of Lunda houses from The Mutata Cazembe and The Maraves, Chevas, Muizas, Muembas, Lundas, and Other Peoples of Southern Africa : Diary of The Portuguese Expedition Commanded By Major Monterio and Adressed To The Emperor in the Three Years 1831 and 1832. The book provides detailed maps, images of architecture, and a basic history of peoples of Southern Africa. The Lunda Empire consisted of what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and parts of Angola. The Lunda Empire did trade with the Arab population through the Indian Ocean and the Portuguese. The Lunda Empire reached its height in economic and political power during the 1850s. The large houses show the prosperity the empire had acquired. Based on the size of the doorways these buildings were immense. This indicates it probably more suited for housing families, rather than a single person. The cone shaped buildings were the style for houses. However, a cylinder shaped building does appear in the drawing. The houses when show on the street are enclosed by walls. The illustration gives incite to the unique African architecture of the 19th century.