Latest / The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History
Portugal's African Empire: Mbanza Kongo and King Afonso I
This episode explores the complex relationship between Portugal and the Kingdom of Kongo during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. We begin with the arrival of Diogo Cão in 1483 and the subsequent diplomatic exchanges that led to the conversion of King Nzinga a Nkuwu, who took the name João I. The narrative focuses on his son, Afonso I, a ruler who navigated the treacherous waters of colonial expansion while trying to preserve Kongo’s sovereignty. We examine the contradictions inherent in this alliance, including the introduction of Christianity alongside the slave trade, which…
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