migration from the East to the South. Of course,
the Portuguese came to Angola as traders, mission-
aries, and conquerors during the 15th century and
discovered the beautifully articulated artistic, cere-
monial, and creative culture of the Kimbundu.
Related in political and social ways to the Ndongo
culture, the Kimbundu culture places a lot of
emphasis on familial and ancestral relationships,
communal responsibilities, and the spiritual world.
As one of the groups that fought the Portuguese
to prevent the slave trade, the Kimbundu established
a record of resistance against conquest and the slave
trade that lasted for more than 100 years. They
finally succumbed to the Portuguese in 1671. After
that time, some of the Kimbundu people adopted
many of the ways of the European Christians.
The Portuguese continued to deplete the num-
ber of Kimbundu through wars and the slave
trade. Many Kimbundu were taken to the
Americas and forced into slavery. In fact, the
Portuguese colonial administration of Angola
succeeded the slave lords and established a Hell
on Earth for the Kimbundu and other ethnic
groups. When the resistance began in earnest
against the Portuguese, it was the Kimbundu who
were the core of the Popular Movement for the
Liberation of Angola. They were able to force the
Portuguese out of the country by 1975.
Like other people in Africa, the Kimbundu spir-
itual values have been battered by the need of the
people to defend themselves against the encroach-
ments of the West. Although they retain a strong
sense of relationships with each other and the
unseen ancestors, they are competing with the rem-
nants of the colonial conquerors for the survival of
their culture. Despite this, they have managed
to add words to the Western languages such as
canary,gorilla,chimpanzee,boogie,bongo,funky,
marimba,mojo,gumbo,zebra, andzombie.
Molefi Kete AsanteSeealsoOvambo
FurtherReadings
Egerton, F. (1957).Angola in Perspective. London:
Routledge.
James, M. (2004).Historical Dictionary of Angola.
Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.
Okuma, T. (1962).Angola in Ferment. Boston: Beacon.
KINGS
The sacred and divine office of king in both clas-
sical and traditional African society was and
continues to be the most integral cultural, reli-
gious, and political institution defining the heart
of African civilization. Kings function as con-
duits between the sacred cosmos of ancestors
and spiritual entities and the mundane affairs of
everyday human activities. Historically and in
many African societies, kings serve as both
of head of “state” and head of “church.”
Alternatively stated, the role of kingship in
African culture fulfills at least four fundamental
purposes: leader and arbitrator for family, clan,
and nation; ritual specialist and mediator for the
spirit world and living community; guardian of
cultural legacy and traditions; and upholder
and defender of social propriety and justice.
Subsequently, kings serve their constituents by
representing their traditions, culture, and aspira-
tions as a divine and ethical imperative, and,
conversely, they serve the divine through their
capacity as high priest and caretaker of the
people. After a brief discussion of the importance
of kings in contemporary African society, this
entry looks at their rich history, their religious
significance, and some current monarchies.ContemporarySignificance
Since the end of the colonial era and the rise of
secular nationalist governments throughout
Africa, the historic power of African traditional
kingships has been seriously curtailed. In some
instances, such as in Uganda, the revolutionary
nationalist government, on acceding to power,
attempted to obliterate the office of kingship for
fear that kings presented an opposing political
force. Today, Ugandan kingdoms like the
Bagandan and Bunyoro have been reinvested with
their historic cultural and social legitimacy, yet
they exercise no legislative power within the polit-
ical processes of government. Due to the cultural
centrality of kingship throughout most African
societies, however, countries such as Ghana,
Botswana, and South Africa have included a
“House of Chiefs” as an advisory body to parlia-
ment to function with consultative power.364 Kings