Chokwe political structure is similar to that…

Chokwe political structure is similar to that of the Lunda, under whose chiefs they had originally lived.

This structure enables the Chokwe to absorb people organized into small lineages over a wide area and to gain military superiority over the indigenous population of the lands into which they moved.

Once they conquer a people, the Chokwe rapidly assimilate them into their own social structure.

The reason for their expansion seems to have been the rich trade in wax, ivory, slaves and, later, rubber; the avenues of Chokwe expansion have followed the lines of preexisting trade routes.