A Berber-origin ancient Libyan tribal group (Egyptian rbw, 'Rebu'; the root of the toponym 'Libya'), first securely attested in an inscription from the reign of Ramesses II (c. 1279-1213 BC). Under their chief Meryey the Libu led a coalition with Sea Peoples groups against Egypt in Merneptah's regnal year 5 (1208 BC), recorded on the Great Karnak Inscription and the Merneptah/Israel Stele; they clashed with Egypt again under Ramesses III.
By the later 22nd Dynasty a hereditary line of 'Great Chiefs of the Libu' held power in the western Nile Delta alongside subordinate 'Chiefs of the Ma(shuash)'. The line culminated in Tefnakht, who held both titles and went on to claim pharaonic titles as founder of Egypt's 24th Dynasty (c. 732-720 BC); the distinct Libu political identity was thereafter absorbed into Egyptian/Kushite-era Delta politics.
Standard modern conference volume on the Libu- and Meshwesh-descended dynasties (22nd-24th) that ruled Egypt; Open-Library-verified (ISBN 9789042922389, Peeters, 2009).