SUMMARY
The Yaka or Bayaka are an ethnic group descended from the people of the Lunda Kingdom, and have lived in DR Congo's modern-day provinces of Kwilu, Kwango, Congo Central, and North Western Angola since the 17th century. They have been involved in UCDPs non-state violence category in the conflict between the Teke-Yaka. According to some sources, the people of the Lunda Kingdom were known for their diplomatic and organizational skills which allowed them to peacefully integrate into Kongo nations. They are said to have been the most resistant to Belgian colonialism and were believed to be invincible against bullets and arrows, earning them the Kongo name of “Bayaka”, meaning “catchers of balls and arrows”, which titled them as invincible.
During the colonial period, the Yaka were incorporated into the Belgian Congo, and Belgian authorities partially relied on traditional Yaka structures to administer local areas through indirect rule. Since independence, Yaka communities have continued to engage with both the central government and local administrative systems. Around the 1970s, Yaka farmers, along with other ethnic groups such as the Suku, Mbala and Songe peoples, migrated to Kwamouth territory on the Bateke Plateau, traditionally inhabited by the Teke ethnic group. They leased farmland in return for customary taxes paid to Teke chiefs. The groups coexisted peacefully over several decades, with instances of intermarriage.
As the Teke raised tax demands and used coercive collection methods, including assistance from the government military forces, tensions increased and contributed to a growing mistrust between Teke and Yaka communities. These tensions culminated in violence on 9 June 2022, and led to a period of retaliatory violence between the groups.
In the beginning Yaka residents were also attacked by Teke villagers, however these were quickly overpowered by the involvement of the Yaka-affiliated Mobondo militia, leading to significant one-sided violence against Teke populations.
The current contested traditional king (or Kiamvu) of the Yaka, Odon Kimona, has been cited as one of the main instigators of the Teke-Yaka conflict. He was also allegedly one of the founders of the Mobondo militia. A Teke chief accused him of steering the violence in order to assert Yaka dominance across the Bateke Plateau as a part of a broader plan to rename it the ‘Lunda Plateau’ and revive the ancient Lunda Kingdom. Kiamvu Odon was also accused of usurping the title from Frederik Inkani of Kasongo-Lunda, who was officially recognized by the government, allegedly by employing the help of the Suku King.
The Suku King, known as the Mini-Kongo, was said to be a descendant of rulers of the ancient Kingdom of Kongo, which lasted until 1914. He was recognized as the traditional king of Kwango and Kwilu provinces, a region that also includes Yaka leaders such as Kiamvu Odon. The current Mini-Kongo, Kavabioko Fabrice Zombi, holds significant political influence in Kinshasa and was appointed by the President to lead a commission aimed at resolving the conflict in Mai-Ndombe. However, he has also been accused of instigating the conflict and of serving as one of the main spiritual practitioners for the Mobondo fighters.
The Yaka and Suku communities were closely related, having lived side by side for centuries. Both Yaka and Suku communities believed that the rituals and powers of fetishes made them stronger, invisible, and invincible to enemies. In June 2022, the Suku “Kakuungu” Mask was returned to the DR Congo by the Kingdom of Belgium. The mask was said to have been designed for war, and was employed by the ancient Mini-Kongo to resist colonization. With the return of the Suku mask, there was an increased social cohesion among the Suku, and it was believed to return their powers. This return and the ceremonial attendance of the Suku Mini-Kongo coincided with the rise of violence between Teke and Yaka communities.
According to the Teke, the Yaka’s tactics included killing Teke village chiefs or sending written warnings about imminent attacks, prompting villagers to flee. This enabled the Yaka fighters to enter abandoned villages with little resistance, facilitating the occupation of farms and land claims. They also burned Teke villages, installed Yaka chiefs, and renamed settlements with Yaka names.
