Nzinga of Ndongo and
Matamba
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Queen Ana Nzinga
Drawing of Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba in
Luanda, Angola
Born c. 1583, Angola
Died December 17, 1663 (aged 79–80)
Na
me
s
Nzi
nga
Mb
and
e
House Guterres
Father Ngola Kilombo Kia Kasenda
Mothe Kangela
r
Nzingha Mbande (1583–1663) was Queen of the Ambundu Kingdoms of Ndongo (1624–
[1]
1663) and Matamba (1631–1663), located in present-day northern Angola. Born into the
ruling family of Ndongo, Nzinga received military and political training as a child, and she
demonstrated an aptitude for defusing political crises as an ambassador to the Portuguese
Empire. She later assumed power over the kingdoms after the death of her father and
brother, who both served as kings. She ruled during a period of rapid growth in the African
slave trade and encroachment of the Portuguese Empire into South West Africa, in attempts
[2]
to control the slave trade. Nzinga fought for the Independence and stature of her kingdoms
[1]
against the Portuguese in a reign that lasted 37 years.
In the years following her death, Nzinga has become a historical figure in Angola and in the
wider Atlantic Creole culture. She is remembered for her intelligence, her political and
diplomatic wisdom, and her brilliant military tactics.
Early life[edit]
Nzingha was born into the royal family of Ndongo in central West around 1583. She was the
daughter of Ngola (a noble title translatable to King) Kilombo of Ndongo. Her mother, Kengela ka
[3] [4] [3]
Nkombe, was one of her father's slave wives and his favorite concubine. Nzingha had two
[5]
sisters, Kambu, or Lady Barbara and Funji, or Lady Grace. She also had a brother, Mbandi
Kiluanji, who took over the throne after their father died. According to legend, the birth process
[3]
had been very difficult for Kengela, the mother. Nzinga received her name because the
umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck (the Kimbundu verb kujinga means to twist or turn).
Children of the royal household who survived difficult or unusual births were believed to possess
[6]
spiritual gifts, and some saw their births as an indicator the person would grow to become a
[7]
powerful and proud person.
[3]
When she was 10 years old, her father became the king of the Ndongo. As a child, Nzinga was
greatly favored by her father. Since she was not considered an heir to the throne (like her
brothers), she was not seen as direct competition, so the king could freely lavish attention upon
her without offending his more likely heirs. She received military training and was trained as a
warrior to fight alongside her father, displaying considerable aptitude with a battle axe, the
[8]
traditional weapon of Ndongan warriors. She participated in many official and governance
[3]
duties alongside her father, including legal councils, war councils, and important rituals.
Furthermore, Nzinga was taught by visiting Portuguese missionaries to read and write in
[9]
Portuguese.
Name variations[edit]
Queen Nzinga Mbande is known by many different names including both Kimbundu and
Portuguese names, alternate spellings and various honorifics. Common spellings found in
[10]
Portuguese and English sources include Nzinga, Nzingha, Njinga and Njingha. In colonial
documentation, including her own manuscripts, her name was also spelled Jinga, Ginga, Zinga,
[11] [10]
Zingua, Zhinga and Singa. She was also known by her Christian name, Ana de Sousa.
This name—Anna de Souza Nzingha—was given to her when she was baptised. She was
named Anna after the Portuguese woman who acted as her Godmother at the ceremony. She
[9]
helped influence who Nzingha was in the future. Her Christian surname, de Souza, came from
[12]
the acting governor of Angola, João Correia de Souza.
As a monarch of Ndongo and Matamba, her native name was Ngola Njinga. Ngola was the
Ndongo name for the ruler and the etymological root of "Angola". In Portuguese, she was known
as Rainha Nzinga/Zinga/Ginga (Queen Nzingha). According to the current Kimbundu
orthography, her name is spelled Njinga Mbandi (the "j" is a voiced postalveolar fricative or "soft
j" as in Portuguese and French, while the adjacent "n" is silent). The statue of Njinga now
standing in the square of Kinaxixi in Luanda calls her "Mwene Njinga Mbande".
