Traditionally fishermen, the Wagenia would have experienced a difficult period of fishing in the 15th century, which would have motivated their migration to a region favorable to fishing. To reach Kisangani, they would have built a large wooden boat which allowed them to navigate to Kisangani (requires exploration because Kasongo-Kindu and Kindu-Ubundu are non-navigable reaches). Arrived in Kisangani, they were warmly welcomed in these terms "Karibu Wageni", words in Swahili which mean in English "Welcome Guests". And this is where the name “wagenia” comes from. They then built the first scaffolding around 1482 on the falls currently known as "wagenia falls".
The fishing practice is unique, original and constitutes a world reference for this people. These scaffoldings on which the traps are suspended resist strong water currents and can be built in different places depending on the water level of the Congo River. Apart from their prowess in defying the rapids in Kisangani, the Wagenia find themselves at the crossroads of a large fishing center where it is possible to catch a varied category of fish, including the Mbenga (Tiger Fish).