Kingdom of Congo

source A Reporte of the Kingdome of Congo, a Region of Africa, and of the Countries that border rounde about the same. Drawen out of the writings and discourses of Odordo Lopes, a Portingal, by Philippo Pigafetta. Translated out of Italian by Abraham Hartwell. London, Printed by John Wolfe, 1597, pp. 118-121.

introductionSlave traders and Catholic missionaries from Portugal who landed on the west coast of Africa during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries brought with them very little knowledge of the region's traditional religions, but they quickly recognized the difficulty in converting Africans to Christianity without first gaining the support of African monarchs. As missionaries serving at the pleasure of African kings, Portuguese priests had to tread softly when it came to the conversion of Africans, and African leaders largely controlled the process. In this passage from A Report of the Kingdom of Congo (1588), the Portuguese historian Duarte Lopes describes the delicate, diplomatic conversion of a Congolese prince and king.

Of the Original beginning of Christendom in the Kingdom of Congo, And how the Portuguese obtained this traffic.

The K. of Portugal Don Gionanni, the second, being desirous to discover the East Indies, sent forth divers ships by the coast of Africa to search out this Navigation, who having found the Islands of Cape Verde, and the Isle of Saint Thomas, and running all along the coast, did light upon the River Zaire, whereof we have made mention before, and there they had good traffic, and tried the people to be very courteous and kind. Afterwards he sent forth (for the same purpose) certain other vessels, to entertain this traffic with Congo, who finding the trade there to be so free and profitable, and the people so friendly, left certain Portuguese behind them, to learn the language, and to traffic with them: among whom one was a Mass-priest. These Portuguese conversing familiarly with the Lord of Sogno, who was Uncle to the King, and a man well up there in years, dwelling at that time In the Port of Praza (which is in the mouth of Zaire) were very well Entertained and esteemed by the Prince, and reverenced as though they Had been earthly Gods, and descended down from heaven into those Countries. But the Portuguese told them that they were men as themselves Were, and professors of Christianity. And when they perceived in how great estimation the people held them, the foresaid Priest & others began to reason with the Prince touching the Christian religion, and to show unto them the errors of the Pagan supersition, and by little and little to teach them the faith which we possess, insomuch as that which the Portuguese spoke unto them, greatly pleased the Prince, and so he became converted.

With this confidence and good spirit, the prince of Sogno went to the Court, to inform the King of the true doctrine of the Christian Portuguese, and to encourage him that he would embrace the Christian Religion which was so manifest, and also so wholesome for his soul's health. Hereupon the king commanded to call the Priest to Court, to the end he might himself treat with him personally, and understand the truth of that which the Lord of Sogno had declared unto him. Whereof when he was fully informed, he converted and promised that he would become a Christian.

And now the Portuguese ships departed from Congo, and returned to Portugal: and by them did the King of Congo write to the King of Portugal, Don Gionanni, the second, with earnest resquest, that he would send him some Priests, with all other orders and ceremonies to make him a Christian. The Priest also that remained behind, had written at large touching this business, and gave the King full information of all that had happened, agreeable to his good pleasure. And so the King took order for sundry religious persons, to be send unto him accordingly, with all ornaments for the Church and other service, as Crosses and Images: so that he was thoroughly furnished with all things that were necessary and needful for such an action.

At the last the ships of Portugal arrived with the expected provisions (which was in the year of our salvation 1491) and landed in the port which in in the mouth of the River Zaire. The Prince of Sogno with all show of familiar joy, accompanied with all his gentlemen ran down to meet them, and entertained the Portuguese in most courteous manner, and so conducted them to their lodgings. The next day following according to the direction of the Priest that remained behind, the Prince caused a kind of Church to be built, with the bodies and branches of certain trees, which he in his own person, with the help of his servants, most devoutly had felled in the wood. And when it was covered, they erected therein three Altars, in the worship and reverence of the most holy Trinity, and there was baptized himself and his young son, himself by the name of our Savior, Emanuel, and his child by the name of Anthonie, because that Saint is the Protector of the City of Lisbon.