Afonso I of the Kongo Kingdom had a complex relationship with Portugal. He welcomed their presence and tried to embrace their religion and culture.
However, he was also concerned about the harmful effects of Portuguese colonialism, such as the spread of disease, the disruption of social structures, and the introduction of the slave trade. He wrote a letter to King John III of Portugal to express his concerns and seek redress for the injustices inflicted upon his people.
So, He requested restitution or the cession of an island, emphasizing the aim of spreading Christianity. Afonso sought priests for evangelization, highlighting the educational benefits.
Therefore, Despite challenges with Portuguese-educated individuals, the king expressed a commitment to the faith's propagation, offering insights into diplomatic relations, trade disputes, and his focus on Christianity in Kongo.
See text below
Afonso I (King of Kongo), Letter to Portugal (1514)
Excerpts from the Full Letter
We now ask Your Highness to dispense justice to Fernão de Melo, because he is slandering us and looking to destroy us. May Your Highness order him to pay for all the merchandise which he has stolen from us through trick- ery while he has never purchased anything from us. If he cannot find mer- chandise with which to pay us, compel him to give us the island, because it belongs to him." This would give us great satisfaction. But let not Your Highness think that we are asking him for this for any other purpose than to extend Christianity. Your Highness should know that young people do not learn as well when they are with their fathers and their mothers than when they are far from them. With this in mind, we will send a man of our blood and Your Highness will send a good and virtuous priest. They will govern this island together primarily in spiritual terms and subsequently in temporal terms. This island is indeed so close to our kingdom that we will send many young boys and young girls there to be educated, because here they all regularly play truant. One day two hundred come to the school, another day a hundred, while over there they will learn in no time at all. Thus this
May Your Highness now see if he wants to complete this work to which we have up until now devoted all of our efforts. That is, in fact, all that we can do. If they obtain fathers who will say mass for them and hear their confessions, they will derive great benefits from it and great steadfastness in their faith. May Our Lord extend the days of Your Highness so that he may always help us in spreading the holy faith.
Transcribed by João Texeira, the servant of the very patient, greatly afflicted prince-king of the Kingdom of Kongo, 5 October 1514.
Done by the King
[signed] King Dom Afonso
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