Bakongo

The Bakongo (aka. the Kongo people) live along the Atlantic coast of Africa from Pointe-Noire (Brazzaville) to Luanda, Angola. In the late 20th century they numbered about 10,220,000.

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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 Bakongo began diplomatic relations which included sending Bakongo nobles to visit the royal assemblage in Portugal in 1485. Bakongo leaders were quickly converted by Christian missionaries and assumed Portuguese court manners, and often divisions between followers of Christianity and followers of the traditional religions resulted. In 1526 the Portuguese were expelled, but the Bakongo peoples were then invaded by the Jagas (Yaka) in 1568, and the Bakongo were forced to look to the Portuguese for help. The Kongo kingdom never regained its former power. In the ensuing years the Bakongo alternatively fought for and against the Portuguese, eventually being colonized in 1885. The Bakongo political party Abako played an important part in national independence in 1960.

Atlantic: redirect Atlantic Ocean...

Africa: Africa is the world's second-largest continent and second most populous after Asia. At about 30,244,050 km² (11,677,240 mi²) including its adjacent islands, it covers 20.3 percent of the total land area on Earth. With over 800 million human inhabitants in 54 countries, it accounts for abou...

Pointe-Noire: Pointe-Noire is the second largest city in the Republic of the Congo, lying on a headland between Pointe-Noire Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The city has grown as a seaport around the oil industry and it is also known for its fishing industry....