The Kingdom of Kongo, in West Central Africa, was flourishing in the fifteenth century. Situated in the region of northern Angola and Western Congo, it had an estimated population of three million people. Its capital was Mbanza Kongo and its ruler was the Mani Kongo. Industrial activities in Kongo included iron smithing, copper mining and manufacturing, and cloth manufacturing ? including bark and raffia textiles.
In 1482, the Portuguese landed in Kongo. They returned in 1485, exchanged envoys, introduced Roman Catholic Christianity and eventually baptised a number of Kongolese leaders and persuaded them to take Portuguese names. The Portuguese volunteered to assist the Kongolese king in battle against his enemies, using their superior weapons (guns). The resulting victories impressed the Kongolese King and he gave the Portuguese land to build churches and their own communities.
Dom Affonso I, a Christianised king, took the throne in 1506. He alienated the non-Christian leaders and wrote to King Manuel or Portugal to send priests and technicians to establish schools and spread Christianity further. In 1508, the slaves from Kongo were sent as presents to King Manuel to pay for the Christianisation programme. Things got out of Kongolese control and the Portuguese were calling the shots. They captured parts of Kongo.
In 1622 Ann Nzingha, sister of the king of Ndongo, sought peace with the Portuguese. The treaty they signed was broken shortly after. Ann Nzingha became Queen of Angola and led her soldiers against the Portuguese invaders.
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