|
Tribe Snapshots Kongo |
| Location: |
Southwestern Congo
(Zaire), Angola,
Congo |
| Population: |
2 million |
| Language: |
KiKongo (central Bantu) |
| Neighboring Peoples: |
Vili, Yombe, Bembe |
| Types of Art: |
The most prolific art form from this area is
the nkisi objects, which come in all shapes, mediums,
and sizes. The stratification of Kongo society
resulted in much of the art being geared toward
those of high status, and the nkisi figures were
one of the only forms available to everyone. |
| History: |
The Kongo peoples migrated into their current
location during the 13th century from the northeast
under the leadership of Wene. In 1482 the Portuguese
arrived on the coast, and the Kongo began diplomatic
relations which included sending Kongo nobles
to visit the royal assemblage in Portugal in 1485.
Kongo leaders were targeted for conversion by
Christian missionaries, and often divisions between
followers of Christianity and followers of the
traditional religions resulted. In 1526 the Portuguese
were expelled, but the Kongo peoples were then
invaded by the Jagas in 1568, and the Kongo were
forced to look to the Portuguese for help. The
Kongo kingdom never regained its former power.
In the ensuing years the Kongo alternatively fought
for and against the Portuguese, eventually being
colonized in 1885. The Kongo political party Abako
played an important part in national independence
in 1960. |
| Economy: |
The Kongo people survive from day to day on
agricultural production, fishing, and hunting.
In its heyday the Kingdom exacted taxes, forced
labor, and collected fines from its citizens in
order to prosper. At times, enslaved peoples,
ivory, and copper were traded to the Europeans
on the coast. The important harbors were Sonyo
and Pinda. |
| Political Systems: |
When the Kongo Kingdom was at its political
apex in the 15th and 16th centuries, the King,
who had to be a male descendant of Wene, reigned
supreme. He was elected by a group of governors,
usually the heads of important families and occasionally
including Portuguese officials. The activities
of the court were supported by an extensive system
of civil servants, and the court itself usually
consisted of numerous male relatives of the King.
The villages were often governed by lesser relatives
of the King who were responsible to him. All members
of government were invested with their power under
the auspices of a ritual specialist. |
| Religion: |
Nzambi was the supreme god for all in the Kongo
Kingdom, and the intermediary representations
included land and sky spirits and ancestor spirits,
all of whom were represented in nkisi objects.
When an individual encountered hardship and feared
that a spirit had been offended, it would be necessary
to consult a diviner (nganga), who would often
instruct the afflicted to add medicines to certain
nkisi in order to achieve well-being. Although
the Portuguese attempted to Christianize the Kongo
peoples as early as 1485, for the most part people
either resisted entirely or incorporated Christian
iconography into their own religions. |
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