Afonso I

AFONSO I THE DEVASTATED AFRICAN KING

The history of King Afonso I (1456-1542/43) and the Kingdom of the Kongo is a tragic tale of the impact of European contact and greed. In 1483, the Kongo was the first kingdom in West Central Africa to come into contact with Europeans. When King Afonso I came to power in 1506, he was captivated by the sophistication of European life. He asked the Portuguese to support education, bring European influence, and convert Kongolese subjects to Christianity. Afonso himself converted to Christianity, and by all accounts had sincere faith. However, as European influence progressed, Kongo society fell apart. In a series of letters to King Joao III of Portugal, Afonso begged for help. He spoke of his inability to control the spread illegal goods in his kingdom brought by the Portuguese trade alliance, resulting in the loss of his authority. The greatest damage was depopulation due to disease and slavery. The Portuguese transported deadly diseases, and Afonso pleaded with Joao to send physicians. Even

more damaging were Portuguese slave traders who were kidnapping free Kongolese in broad daylight. Even Afonso’s own noblemen had been captured.

In a final plea, Afonso emphasized, “[I]t is our will that in these Kingdoms there should not be any trade of slaves nor outlet for them.” 1 It was too late. Afonso’s complaints were ignored because the Portuguese remaining in Kongo were no longer missionaries, nor government officials who had returned to Portugal. Those wreaking havoc on his kingdom were white slave traders who disregarded the authority of the Kongolese King. Afonso had welcomed European life into his kingdom, unwittingly leading to his kingdom’s demise.

TATUM BERGEN INTERNATIONAL STUDIES MAJOR

A 16th century king of Congo on a podium receives a retinue of Portuguese. Colored engraving based on a De Bry original.