Introduction
The Congo is a land of abundance. Its rivers, forests, fertile soils, and subsoil are filled with resources that make the world dream. From strategic cobalt that powers electric vehicle batteries, to gold and copper that shape global industry, and cassava, a staple food and an agro-industrial resource of the future—everything makes the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) a key player in the global economy.
Yet, despite this abundance, Congolese people still live in paradoxical poverty. This contrast is not new: as early as the precolonial era, the peoples of Kasai and Katanga had developed sophisticated forms of traditional currencies, one of the most emblematic being the Lukanu lua Tshiombo.
Today, as Africa considers a monetary union and the DRC explores the creation of a Congolese Digital Franc (FCN), it is essential to revisit this history. The Lukanu lua Tshiombo was not just a means of exchange—it embodied an economic and cultural vision, where the wealth of the soil (gold, copper) was used to build social cohesion, dignity, and development.
In this article, we will explore in depth:
- The history and meaning of the Lukanu lua Tshiombo in Luba and Congolese culture.
- Its economic and symbolic role in traditional transactions.
- The importance of gold and copper in Congo’s identity.
- The parallels with modern initiatives such as the Amani Prosperity Plan and the Eyano Cassava Institute.
- The vision of a monetary renaissance in Congo through the Eyano Cryptocurrency (EYA) and the Congolese Digital Franc (FCN).
1. Origin and Nature of Lukanu lua Tshiombo
The word “Lukanu” in Tshiluba means bracelet.
The word “Tshiombo” refers to an alloy of precious metals, mainly gold and copper.
The Lukanu lua Tshiombo was a metallic bracelet, forged from a carefully measured blend of red copper and gold—two metals abundant in the southern DRC, particularly in Katanga and Kasai. This object circulated as a form of currency long before the arrival of European colonizers.
Luba and Lunda blacksmiths played a central role in crafting these objects. Their advanced metallurgical expertise, renowned across Central Africa, allowed them to produce a metal both durable and brilliant. Each piece was cast, hammered, and polished to become not only an economic instrument but also a symbol of social status.
2. Lukanu as Prestige Currency and Exchange Tool
The Lukanu lua Tshiombo was not meant for small daily transactions like buying food. For that, Congolese people used other forms of traditional money such as:
- Cowrie shells, used as units of account.
- Raffia cloths, exchanged as value.
- Salt, rare and highly valued in certain regions.
The Lukanu, however, was used in major transactions:
- Marriage: It was an important part of the dowry (lolanji). Offering a Lukanu meant recognizing the woman’s value and honoring her family.
- Political alliances: Luba and Lunda chiefs used the Lukanu to seal alliances and strengthen pacts.
- Acquisition of wealth: It was sometimes used to purchase cattle, land, or even to pay fines and compensations.
Thus, the Lukanu lua Tshiombo was both money, jewel, and symbol. It circulated within a socially defined framework, ensuring trust and stability in exchanges.
3. Gold and Copper: Pillars of Ancient and Modern Congo
The DRC sits on an invaluable geological treasure.
- Copper from Katanga has been exploited for centuries by local artisans. Long before colonial times, the Luba, Lunda, and Songye mastered copper metallurgy, producing tools, weapons, and prestige items.
- Gold from Kasai and Ituri has always attracted traders and conquerors. Congolese kingdoms used gold not only for ornaments but also as a symbol of power.
The Lukanu lua Tshiombo, combining both metals, symbolized the union of Congo’s vital forces:
- Copper: symbol of labor, sweat, and effort.
- Gold: symbol of light, royalty, and prosperity.
Even today, copper and gold represent a major share of Congo’s exports and form the foundation for initiatives like the Amani Prosperity Plan and the future Digital Franc (FCN).
4. From Lukanu to the Eyano Cassava Institute: Valuing Soil and Subsoil
The story of the Lukanu teaches us a deep truth: Congo’s wealth does not lie only in its mineral subsoil, but also in its fertile soil.
This is the vision behind the Eyano Cassava Institute, a forward-looking initiative aimed at transforming cassava, Congo’s traditional agricultural resource, into a strategic economic lever, just as gold and copper were for the Lukanu.
The parallel is striking:
- The Lukanu lua Tshiombo tied together gold and copper, two mineral resources.
- The Eyano Cassava Institute ties together soil (agriculture) and subsoil (critical minerals via the Amani Prosperity Plan) in a unified vision of prosperity.
Thus, from the ancient copper-gold bracelet to the Congolese Digital Franc (FCN) backed by gold, cobalt, and agricultural products like cassava, Congo follows a historical continuity: transforming its natural resources into currency, value, and sovereignty.
5. Toward the Congolese Digital Franc (FCN) and Eyano Cryptocurrency (EYA)
In today’s context:
- The DRC and the United States are working on the Amani Prosperity Plan, a strategic agreement on critical minerals essential to the global energy transition.
- Meanwhile, initiatives like Eyano Cryptocurrency (EYA) and the Congolese Digital Franc (FCN) are emerging to modernize the Congolese monetary system.
The FCN could be backed by real reserves: gold, copper, cobalt, and key agricultural products such as cassava. This mechanism recalls the role of the Lukanu lua Tshiombo, which was already a currency backed by precious metals.
The EYA, on the other hand, represents the connection of the diaspora and digital financial flows (remittances, e-commerce, investments). By linking the Congolese diaspora to the development of agriculture and infrastructure, it becomes a new digital Lukanu—a bridge between the soil, the subsoil, and the people’s needs.
6. Lessons from the Lukanu for Today’s DRC
The Lukanu lua Tshiombo offers several key principles for building Congo’s prosperous future:
- Anchor currency in real wealth
- The Lukanu was based on a tangible alloy (gold + copper).
- The FCN could be guaranteed by the nation’s strategic reserves (gold, cobalt, lithium, coltan, and agricultural products).
- Link economy and culture
- The Lukanu was not only financial value but also a symbol of marriage, alliance, and dignity.
- The FCN and EYA must also embody cultural and identity values, just as the Eyano Cassava Institute elevates cassava as Congo’s “white gold.”
- Ensure stability and trust
- The Lukanu inspired trust because it was widely recognized.
- Likewise, the Congolese Digital Franc must be built on transparency, governance, and citizen oversight (as underlined by the Law on Monetary Intangibility and UN Resolution 2773).
7. Congo, the Ark of Wealth: From Mobutu to Tshisekedi
As Marshal Mobutu Sese Seko once predicted, Congo would go through a “deluge” of wars and suffering before its rebirth. This deluge materialized in the succession of conflicts in the East (RCD, CNDP, M23) and the ongoing aggression supported by neighboring powers.
Today, under the leadership of President Félix Tshisekedi, and with initiatives such as the Amani Prosperity Plan and the Eyano Cassava Institute, a new era is unfolding. Congo is preparing to place its “Noah’s Ark” on the mountain, a symbol of reconstruction and hope.
The Lukanu lua Tshiombo then becomes a metaphor: yesterday, it guaranteed alliances and prosperity for the Luba kingdoms; tomorrow, it inspires the Congolese Digital Franc (FCN) and the Eyano Cryptocurrency (EYA) as instruments of monetary sovereignty and economic renaissance.
Conclusion: Inheriting to Transform
The Lukanu lua Tshiombo is not just a relic of the past.
It is historical proof that Congo has always been able to use its natural resources as the foundation of its economy and civilization.
Today, the DRC has the opportunity to write a new chapter in its history by:
- Securing its strategic minerals through the Amani Prosperity Plan.
- Revolutionizing its agriculture through the Eyano Cassava Institute, turning fertile soil into lasting wealth.
- Creating a sovereign digital currency (FCN) backed by gold, copper, and cassava.
- Mobilizing the diaspora through the Eyano Cryptocurrency (EYA), to invest in the nation’s prosperity.
Thus, from the Lukanu lua Tshiombo to the Congolese Digital Franc, from gold and copper to cassava and cobalt, Congo continues its historical trajectory: transforming its natural heritage into real, shared wealth for development and national unity.
The Lukanu was once a symbol of prosperity and unity for past kingdoms. Today, it is reborn in another form, to inspire a new generation of Congolese to build a strong, sovereign, and prosperous nation.
✍️
Augustin Kazadi-Cilumbayi
Chief Executive Officer
Eyano Publishing
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