For the Mbundu, a major ethnolinguistic group of Angola, traditional allegiance and identity did not center on kingdom, nation, race or ethnicity, but on the extended family. Joseph C. Miller convincingly reconstructs the Mbundu efforts to establish a broader sense of identity, and a wider basis for political power. Some traditional organizations established a basic framework for organization that transcended lineage affiliation. Hunting societies, for instance, initiated members from different lineages and even different ethnic groups. Mbundu leaders continually tried to legitimize even broader authority that would supersede allegiance to extended families and encompass members of many lineages. The Mbundu did establish many kingdoms. By the eve of extensive Portuguese colonization, however, authority and loyalty eventually reverted from kings to lineage elders. Miller offers great insight into political philosophy and practice in West Central Africa.

For studies of the same region, see works by John Thornton and Jan Vansina, as well as various works on the Ovimbundu (related to the Mbundu), and Miller's own The Way of Death: Merchant Capitalism and the Angolan Slave Trade, 1730-1830

For the Mbundu people of Angola, identity and organization centered traditionally not on state, kingdom, race or ethnicity. Association was based on lineage membership; authority resided with elders of the extended family.

Some societies did exist which bound together people from various families. Hunting societies, for instance, initiated people from different families, even different ethno-linguistic groups. Political authority and association, however, did not transcend the limits of family allegiance. Several movements and leaders did aim at establishing authority that would encompass people from many families, and supersede the authority of lineage heads. Joseph Miller interprets the dreaded Imbangala invasions, who terrorized Angola, in light of this objective.

Many kingdoms were established among the Mbundu. On the eve of Portuguese colonization, however, authority reverted from kings to lineage elders.

Other works on Central Africa include histories by Phyllis Martin, David Birmingham and John Kelly Thornton, as well as Miller's Way of Death: Merchant Capitalism and the Angolan Slave Trade, 1730-1830.