Ilunga is a relatively common personal name in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In June 2004, "ilunga" was reported as being a Bantu word meaning "a person who is ready to forgive any abuse for the first time, to tolerate it a second time, but never a third time", and - in the opinion of 1,000 linguists surveyed on the subject – the world's most difficult word to translate.
Ilunga is a family name placed before the given name. There are many famous African and African-descended people named Ilunga. For example:
Kalala Ilunga, legendary founder of the Luba ethnic group of Democratic Republic of CongoBendele Ilunga, boxer, BelgiumDidier Ilunga-Mbenga, basketball, Congo, joined Dallas Mavericks in July 2004Dorah Ilunga Kabulu, politician, BelgiumEnock Ilunga, painter, ZambiaHérita Ilunga, footballer, Democratic Republic of CongoFerousi Ilunga, boxer, CongoIlunga A. Kalonzo Ilunga, politician, CongoIlunga Katele, traditional culture hero, royal ancestor of the Chokwe peopleMartin-Léonard Bakole wa Ilunga (deceased), Catholic archbishop, CongoMasengo Ilunga, former footballer of Ethnikos Piraeus born in Zaire.Gen. Ilunga Shamanga (deceased), Congo, Army General, last interior minister of Mobutu's regime, and later prominent member of the Congolese Rally for Democracy rebel group.Ilunga Mwepu, Congolese footballerKasongo Ilunga, Congolese politicianTshiluba is a language spoken in southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
