Angola: Portuguese, African polities and the slave trade (1482-1614)

Updated October 2005

After the capture of Cueta from the Muslims in 1415 the Portuguese sought a way to outflank the Muslim principalities to the south and the east and establish an independent route to the east free from Muslim control (Amaral 2005). In 1482 a Portuguese exploration mission under Diogo Cão reached the Kongo Kingdom where he was welcomed by King Nzinga Nkuwu (Columbia Encyclopedia 2001).

The two powers exchanged embassies, and Nzinga Nkuwu was favourably impressed by the reports he received of Portuguese culture, religion and technology. At his request the Portuguese sent missionaries, tradesmen and military advisors to the Kongo; these arrived at the Capital, M'banza Kongo, in 1491 (Columbia Encyclopedia 2001, Accord 2004, Library of Congress 1989b).

The missionaries made rapid inroads amongst the people of the kingdom, which was facilitated by the conversion of Nzinga Nkuwu and a large part of the aristocracy. Aided by Portuguese military personnel João I, as Nzinga Nkuwu styled himself after his baptism, was able to suppress a rebellion, providing direct evidence of the usefulness of the Portuguese to the kingdom (Ellsworth 1999, 19, Columbia Encyclopedia 2001).

Initially the Portuguese established coastal trading posts in the vicinity of Luanda, focused on the export of slaves and ivory in exchange for firearms and other European goods (Human Rights & Documentation Centre undated). Shortly after establishing relations with the Kongo Kingdom the Portuguese made contact with the vassals of the Kongo, the Ndongo Kingdom under the Ngola (King) Kiluange (Library of Congress 1989c).

Through skillful diplomacy Kiluange was able to form a series of alliances with neighbouring polities and hold Portuguese encroachment at bay. Eventually he was captured and beheaded by the Portuguese in Luanda (Angolan Embassy 1996).

João I died in 1505 and was succeeded by Afonso I, who was a devout Catholic and who vigorously pursued the conversion and Europeanization of the Kongo (Columbia Encyclopedia 2001, Library of Congress 1989b). Portugal, in the meanwhile expanded its colonial ventures in Sao Tome, Principe and Brazil, and more especially the establishment of labour intensive sugar plantations. This in turn bred a burgeoning and lucrative trade in slaves and it was to the Kongo that the slave traders looked for their supply (Library of Congress 1989b).

As the attention of the Portuguese crown shifted towards the new colonies so interest in the Kongo waned; the missionaries and other personnel returned to Portugal. Relations between the Kongo and Portugal were left increasingly in the hands of the slave traders who, far from the writ of the Portuguese crown, were increasingly contemptuous of the authority of that of the Kongo (Library of Congress 1989b).

References

ACCORD 2004 "Chronology" Accord 15, [www] http://www.c-r.org/our-work/accord/angola/chronology.php [opens new window] (accessed 15 May 2008).

AMARAL, L 2005, "Economic History of Portugal", IN Whaples, R (ed), EH.Net Encyclopedia, [www] http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/amaral.portugal [opens new window] (accessed 16 Oct 2007).

ANGOLAN EMBASSY 1996, "Pre Colonial Period" IN Virtual Historical Tour of Angola, Washington DC, [www] http://www.angola.org/referenc/history/tour0.html (page off-line 19 Oct 2007).

COLUMBIA ENCYCLOPEDIA 2001, "Kingdom of Kongo", Sixth Edition, [www] http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0828072.html [opens new window] (accessed 16 Oct 2007).

ELLSWORTH, KH 1999, "Racial and Ethnic Relations in the Modern World-System: A Comparative Analysis of Portuguese Influence in Angola and Brazil", Paper presented at the 1999 International Studies Assoc. Conference, February 19, 18-26 [www] http://www.public.asu.edu/~ellswork/isa1999.pdf [PDF document, opens new window] (accessed 16 Oct 2007).

HUMAN RIGHTS & DOCUMENTATION CENTRE UNDATED, "Historical Background" IN Angola, [www] http://www.hrdc.unam.na/an_history.htm (site off-line 19 Oct 2007).

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 1989b, "Kongo Kingdom" IN Country Study: Angola [www] http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+ao0014) [opens new window] (accessed 16 Oct 2007).

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 1989c, "Ndongo Kingdom" IN Country Study: Angola [www] http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+ao0015) [opens new window] (accessed 16 Oct 2007).