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 Congo
Bendele Ilunga, boxer, Belgium
Didier Ilunga-Mbenga, basketball, Congo, joined Dallas Mavericks in July 2004
Dorah Ilunga Kabulu, politician, Belgium
Enock Ilunga, painter, Zambia
Hérita Ilunga, footballer, Democratic Republic of Congo
Ferousi Ilunga, boxer, Congo
Ilunga A. Kalonzo Ilunga, politician, Congo
Ilunga Katele, traditional culture hero, royal ancestor of the Chokwe people
Martin-Léonard Bakole wa Ilunga (deceased), Catholic archbishop, Congo
Masengo 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 footballer
Kasongo Ilunga, Congolese politician
Tshiluba is a language spoken in southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
