2.2. Conversion to Christianity Flashcards
What significant event occurred in 1482 regarding the Kongo?
Portuguese navigator Diogo Cao discovered Kongo and made contact with Nzinga a Nkuwu
This marked the beginning of European influence in the region.
What was the purpose of the missionary expedition sent by Joao II of Portugal in 1490?
To shape Kongo society and civilization in the image of European society
This included bringing Portuguese masons, carpenters, soldiers, missionaries, and various goods.
What was the significance of the baptism of Nzinga a Nkuwu?
He adopted the name Joao I and established a connection with Portuguese sovereignty
His baptism was a strategic move to strengthen ties with Portugal.
What military support did Portugal provide to Kongo during Joao’s reign?
Portugal provided soldiers that helped Joao defend against Teke raiders
This military aid contributed to a decisive victory.
Why did Christianity appeal to the mwissikongo?
It was seen as a source of ngolo, or power, which had political implications
The adoption of Christianity was intertwined with the central power of the manikongo.
What role did Afonso I play in the establishment of Christianity in Kongo?
He allied with outlying chiefs and converted them to Christianity
This helped him secure the throne during a period of succession disputes.
What was the outcome of Afonso’s military victory against Mpanzu a Kitama?
Afonso took the throne by violence and eliminated opposition
He attributed his victory to a miraculous appearance of heavenly horsemen.
How did Afonso I contribute to the development of the Catholic Church in Kongo?
He established a well-organized church and appointed his son Henrique as bishop
This integration of church and state was crucial for Kongo’s political structure.
What was the significance of the coat of arms designed by Afonso?
It symbolized his victory and the integration of Christianity into Kongo identity
It continued to be used as a seal in Kongo until 1859.
What was Afonso’s approach to education and governance?
He built schools, sent students to Portugal, and created a literate class
Education was reserved for the elite, reinforcing social hierarchies.
What characterized the relationship between Diogo I and Christianity?
Diogo I tolerated Christianity only when it served his political ambitions
He limited the power of the clergy and used religion as a tool.
What happened during Alvaro I’s reign regarding missionary activity?
Missionary activity was reorganized with the arrival of Dominicans
Alvaro I sought to balance Portuguese influence while requesting more missionaries.
How did Christianity impact Kongo’s sovereignty according to historians?
It is often seen as undermining Kongo’s sovereignty and serving European interests
This view emphasizes a semi-colonial relationship with Portugal.
What was the role of indigenous religion in Kongo during the spread of Christianity?
Indigenous religion continued to be practiced despite the adoption of Christianity
This highlights the coexistence of both belief systems.
Fill in the blank: The Kongo emissaries returned to Kongo with a fleet of three _______.
[caravels]
True or False: Afonso I’s conversion to Christianity was purely a religious decision.
False
It was deeply intertwined with political strategy and power consolidation.
What was the European perception of Christianity in the Kongo?
Christianity was seen as a foreign religion serving European interests and undermining Kongo’s sovereignty.
Historians in the 1960s viewed it as part of a semi-colonial relationship with Portugal.
How did David Birmingham characterize the role of Christianity in Kongo?
Christianity was maintained as a façade to enhance Kongo’s diplomatic relations with Europe, while indigenous religions were practiced in most affairs.
This view suggests a limited influence of Christianity.
What was the relationship between the number of European clergies and the influence of Christianity in Kongo?
Christianity’s influence was measured by the presence of European clergies, strong under Afonso in the 16th century but weakened in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
The decline was linked to the abandonment of Kongo by Portuguese priests.
According to John Thornton, how did Kongo’s conversion to Christianity differ from European control?
Kongo converted to Christianity of its own free will, shaping the Church and its doctrines independently of European influence.
This control made attempts by outsiders to use the Church for political leverage unsuccessful.
What evidence indicates the loyalty of Kongo kings to the Church?
Kings wrote to the Pope, requested missionaries, marital dispensations, and divine assistance against invasions of locusts.
This formal loyalty suggests a strategic alliance with Christianity.
True or False: Modern opinions doubt the sincerity of Kongo’s conversion to Christianity.
True
Historians like MacGaffey argue that Christianity in Kongo fit into local cosmology.
Fill in the blank: Christian priests were called _______.
nganga
What practices did Christian priests adopt from traditional nganga?
Healing, witch-finding, and organizing religious processions.
They instructed people not to consult traditional nganga.
What was the kimpasi initiation, and how did it relate to Christianity?
Kimpasi involved the death and resurrection of initiates, resembling the Christian resurrection narrative.
Priests struggled against it but didn’t eliminate it.
Why was Christianity able to intertwine with traditional beliefs in Kongo?
Reasons include:
* Inclusive conception of religion by missionaries
* Adaptation of Christian terms into Kikongo
* Priests filling roles similar to traditional nganga
What was the Church’s income structure in Kongo?
The Church’s income came mainly as a moradia, with the state controlling revenue collection.
This setup prevented Portugal from using the Church as a political tool.
Who was Dona Beatriz Kimpa Vita, and what was her significance?
She revived the Kingdom of Kongo through Antonianism, claiming to be possessed by Saint Anthony and advocating for a Kongo-centered Catholicism.
Her movement recognized papal authority but opposed European missionaries.
How did Afonso I use Christianity to strengthen his rulership?
He sought priests to maintain order and suppress the influence of Portuguese merchants threatening his authority.
He emphasized the need for religious support to stabilize his kingdom.
What was the relationship between Christianity and Kongo’s sovereignty?
Christianity did not threaten Kongo’s sovereignty; rather, it conferred diplomatic leverage in Europe.
The Kongo’s allegiance to Rome helped secure papal support against invasions.
What role did local education play in the Church’s establishment in Kongo?
The local educational system created a literate clergy that facilitated the spread of Christianity and maintained Kongo’s unique interpretation of it.
Literate students entered the priesthood and assisted in religious practices.
What barriers did polygamy present to Christianity in Kongo, and how were they addressed?
Polygamy was transformed into concubinage, allowing Kongo nobility to maintain multiple wives under Christian rites.
This adaptation prevented conflict between traditional practices and Christian doctrine.
How did tensions arise between Portuguese clergy and the Kongolese?
Tensions developed due to the Portuguese clergy’s attempts to exert control over the Kongo Church, which the Kongo resisted.
This conflict was rooted in differing religious and political interests.
What is the main issue addressed regarding the trade of slaves in the Kingdoms?
The corruption and licentiousness leading to the depopulation of the country
What does the letter request from Your Highness to help prevent slave trade?
To send no merchants or wares to the Kingdoms
What are the desired goods mentioned for the holy sacrament?
Wine and flour
What happens to people kidnapped for the slave trade upon capture by white men?
They are ironed and branded with fire
Fill in the blank: The law passed requires white men to inform _______ of noblemen before purchasing goods.
three
Who are the noblemen mentioned that must be informed of goods being purchased?
- Dom Pedro Manipanza
- Dom Manuel Manissaba
- Goncalo Pires
What is the consequence for white men who do not comply with the new law regarding purchasing goods?
They will lose the aforementioned goods
What health issue is prevalent in the Kingdoms according to the letter?
Lack of physicians and surgeons to treat diseases
What do the people in the Kingdom primarily use to treat their ailments?
Herbs and ancient methods
What specific request is made for medical assistance in the letter?
To send two physicians, two apothecaries, and one surgeon
Fill in the blank: The Kongo cosmology includes the term _______ for God.
Nzambi Mpungu
What was the initial perception of the Portuguese by the Kongo people?
Welcomed as ancestors from the North and spirits of the water from the South
What does the Kongo cross symbolize?
The cyclical nature of the natural world
What concept in Kongo cosmology is similar to the preaching of the resurrection of Christ?
Kimpasi
True or False: The adoption of Christianity in Kongo was immediately welcomed.
False
What are the sources suggested for further reading on religious change in Kongo?
- John Thornton The Development of an African Catholic Church
- John Thornton Demography and History in the Kingdom of Kongo
- Richard Gray A Kongo Princess, the Kongo Ambassadors and the Papacy
- Anne Hilton European Sources for the Study of Religious Change in Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century Kongo
- John Parker Great Kingdoms of Africa, Chapter 7
