Dona Beatriz Kimpa Vita (1684–1706) Kongo Kingdom [now modern day northern Angola, Cabinda, southern Republic of the Congo, the western Democratic Republic of the Congo]
Kimpa Vita was a M’Kongo prophet who created a Catholic (Christian) sect called Antonianism/Antonine sect which syncretised traditional Kongo religion with Catholicism.
Christianity arrived in the Kongo Kingdom in the 15th century before European colonialism (the scramble for Africa) on the continent began, In 1491 King Nzinga converted to Christianity of his own free will, changed his name to João after being baptised. Many nobals, officials and lowers classes also converted to Catholicism but this didn’t mean that traditional Kongo religion was abandoned many still practiced Kongo religion and also both Catholicism as well as Kongo religion.
Kimpa Vita was born into a noble class in the Kongo Kingdom. It is claimed that Kimpa Vita had visions since she was young which made it possible for her to become a nganga marinda (a person who communicates with the spirit world in order to help the community) and later on in her life she began to learn more about Catholicism. When Kimpa Vita fell ill she claimed to have received visions of St. Anthony of Padua (who was called Toni Malau or Anthony of good fortune in KiKongo) and finally claimed to be possessed by the spirit of St Anthony, who addressed the kingdom’s problems through her. She called for the revitalisation of the kingdom after it had been torn apart by a civil war. Kimpa Vita also believed that the Holy family were Bakongo (demonym for those from the Kongo Kingdom/descended from the Kongo Kingdom also Kongolese in English). Her movement was very hostile towards the European missionaries whom her and her followers considered to be corrupt, greedy and also unsympathetic to the spiritual needs of Bakongo Catholics. Kimpa Vita sent emissaries to spread her teachers all over Kongo and called out to the rulers of Kongo to unite under one king.
In 1706 Kimpa Vita was captured by King Pedro II and burned for heresy. Kimpa Vita is still commemorated by some Bakongo and other Congolese and Angolans today. She is also called Yaya Kimpa Vita, Prophétesse Kimpa Vita or Mama Kimpa Vita by people today
Videos on Youtube of people commemorating Kimpa Vita (not in English) 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6
Crucifix: Saint Anthony of Padua, 18th century Angola/Democratic Republic of Congo
Pectoral: Saint Anthony (Toni Malau), 18th century Angola/Democratic Republic of Congo
Staff: Saint Anthony (Toni Malau), 18th century Angola/Democratic Republic of Congo
The Kongolese Saint Anthony: Dona Beatriz Kimpa Vita and the Antonian movement by by John Thornton
[I was unable to find the artist for the image I used if you know their name please comment and blog or message me]
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