The civilizing founder hero-king of the Luba empire — Kalala Ilunga, 'Ilunga the warrior' — son of Mbidi Kiluwe and Bulanda, who, warned by the diviner Mijibu wa Kalenga, escapes Nkongolo's spear-pit, defeats and beheads his tyrant uncle, and inaugurates sacred kingship (bulopwe), founding the dynasty (popular chronology ~1585; Reefe, later 16th c.). Authored as a demigod (the half-divine prince-hero who founds the kingship); bulopwe is carried by descent (inheritability 'full'). era dynastic; lifecycle runs mythic (birth in the epic generation) → dynastic (foundation and death).