Kongo's Christian King

Kongo's Christian King

  • Submitted By: busch
  • Date Submitted: 02/20/2009 11:15 AM
  • Category: History Other
  • Words: 955
  • Page: 4
  • Views: 623

Kongo’s Christian King

King Dom Afonso was ruler of the Kongo and help shape the policy of Kongo’s version of Christianity. Afonso as well as other Kongolese rulers wanted to introduce Christianity’s beliefs and rituals but at the same time Africanize it so that the subjects of the Kongo would be able to understand and adopt it more easily. (Bulliet 360) During his reign, Afonso also help rebuild the capital of Kongo using stone, expand the kingdom dramatically, and establish the Roman Catholic Church in Kongo. (Afonso I) He also extended the relations with Portugal which enabled trade and contributed greatly to the growth of the Kongo.
King Afonso desired a number of things from the Portuguese. The main thing that King Afonso was asking from Portugal was the aid of schools and medicine. (Bulliet 360) Some other very important items needed to continue the ritual of Christianity in their kingdom was wine and flour for their holy sacrament. A problem that concerned King Afonso was that they scarcely shipped these items to Kongo and it showed a great negligence that the Portuguese had toward them. (Bulliet 360) King Afonso also desires that Portugal not allow their men to set up shops in the Kongo that sell goods that they have already prohibited. Because of the Portuguese doing this, it has caused much mayhem in the city. King Afonso describes it as this, “…it is doing a great harm not only to the service of God, but also the security and peace of our kingdoms and state”. (Bulliet 360) To help with this problem, King Afonso request priests, teachers, and the items necessary for ritual to help disrupt this corruption. Another desire of King Afonso is the need for physicians and surgeons. There is disease that is killing much of the kingdom’s population because they can only rely on sticks, herbs, and faith to cure them. King Afonso asks, “…send us two physicians and two pharmacists and one surgeon, so that they may come with their pharmacies and necessary...

Similar Essays