The Luba Empire was one of the most-renowned African states. Archaeologists have shown that the area where the heart of the Empire was situated, east of the Kasai river around the head waters of the Lualaba river (Congo), was likely  inhabited by the 5th Century, with the beginnings of the empire emerging by the 14th century. The Empire flourishedfrom approximately the late 15ththrough the late 19th Century, and theLuba numbered around 5.5M at theheight of its civilization. The Luba Empire was decimated by Belgiancolonization between 1880 and 1960, and the breakdown of the Empirere sulted in the development of small autonomous local lineage groups, and today are believed to number  around 1M. Kifwebe masks appeared at the installation and death of a chief, and at the initiation rites of young men as well as occasions that included punishments, warfare and public works.