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The Portuguese and the Kongo King Who Converted
This episode tells the story of the Kingdom of Kongo and its king, Afonso I (Mvemba a Nzinga), who embraced Christianity in the late 15th century after the arrival of Portuguese explorers. We explore the dynamics of this early alliance, the complex relations between Kongo and Portugal, Afonso's efforts to modernize his kingdom using European models, and the slave trade that eventually soured the relationship. We also touch on the legacy of this conversion and the subsequent decline of Kongo. Learn about the Kongo alphabet, the role of Portuguese missionaries, and the letters Afonso wrote…
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