Haneka Humbe

The Haneka Humbe are a cluster of agropastoral Bantu peoples of southwestern Angola, chiefly in the Huíla highlands and the neighbouring Cunene and Namibe lands, who share the Nyaneka linguistic root and include groups such as the Muíla, Handa and Cumbe.

Cattle were their chief measure of wealth, with cultivation largely for subsistence. Before colonial rule they were organized into three kingdoms, Humbe, Mulondo and Camba, and only Humbe grew powerful; originally founded by Ovimbundu, its military order rested on fortified quilombo camps.

By the 1700s Humbe traders were selling ivory at the Portuguese port of Benguela and raiding neighbouring Huíla and Gambos communities for slaves sold through the same port, while recurrent attacks from the Kwanhama kept the country insecure and Portuguese sertanista traders pushed deeper into the region.