Kimpa Vita (Dona Beatriz) and “Afro-Catholicism”: reexamining controversies and unsolved problems
My paper concentrates on certain unsolved or controversial questions regarding the famous nganga marinda (person communicating with the spiritual world), prophetess and religious leader and rebel, Kimpa Vita (Dona Beatriz) (1684-1706), who - in a period of civil war - "supported" Pedro IV...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Africajournals
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Pharos Journal of Theology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.pharosjot.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/theme_1_article_4_se1_2021__benjamin_hendrickx_kimpa_vita.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818437431856201728 |
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| author | Benjamin Hendrickx, Professor Emeritus |
| author_facet | Benjamin Hendrickx, Professor Emeritus |
| author_sort | Benjamin Hendrickx, Professor Emeritus |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | My paper concentrates on certain unsolved or controversial questions regarding the famous nganga marinda (person communicating with the spiritual world), prophetess and religious leader and rebel, Kimpa Vita (Dona Beatriz) (1684-1706), who - in a period of civil war - "supported" Pedro IV (Nusama a Mvemba) to conquer and maintain the throne of the Empire
of Kongo (now part of Angola and the DRC) with Sao Salvador (now Mbanza Kongo) as capital, and then “betrayed” him. She has been compared to Jeanne d' Arc and black Christians have insisted that the Pope make her a saint. She believed that she was the incarnation of St. Anthony of Padua, and her followers have been called Antonines. She has also been labelled in a 2016-film "Mother of African Revolution", trying to free the slaves. The results of these political and religious actions, real or attributed to her, need re-examination
and further investigation. In the same context, her Africanism, expressed in her use of traditions, the establishment of an African-Catholic indigenous version of Christianity, her symbolism and philosophy as well as references to another older prophetess, Appolonia (sic!) Mafuta, receive renewed attention. The question is asked whether and in how far her court case and execution as a heretic, resulting from interventions by the Church and the King, were
related to the Inquisition. Today, it is recognized that Kimpa Vita has introduced a new theology, an African version of Catholic Christianity. Finally, a post-mortem considers her influence after her death. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T17:24:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5049005985734c758f53e40cf6cd1282 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2414-3324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T17:24:34Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Africajournals |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharos Journal of Theology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5049005985734c758f53e40cf6cd12822022-12-21T22:53:15ZengAfricajournalsPharos Journal of Theology2414-33242021-06-011021https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.102.14Kimpa Vita (Dona Beatriz) and “Afro-Catholicism”: reexamining controversies and unsolved problemsBenjamin Hendrickx, Professor Emeritus0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2639-8857University of Johannesburg, South AfricaMy paper concentrates on certain unsolved or controversial questions regarding the famous nganga marinda (person communicating with the spiritual world), prophetess and religious leader and rebel, Kimpa Vita (Dona Beatriz) (1684-1706), who - in a period of civil war - "supported" Pedro IV (Nusama a Mvemba) to conquer and maintain the throne of the Empire of Kongo (now part of Angola and the DRC) with Sao Salvador (now Mbanza Kongo) as capital, and then “betrayed” him. She has been compared to Jeanne d' Arc and black Christians have insisted that the Pope make her a saint. She believed that she was the incarnation of St. Anthony of Padua, and her followers have been called Antonines. She has also been labelled in a 2016-film "Mother of African Revolution", trying to free the slaves. The results of these political and religious actions, real or attributed to her, need re-examination and further investigation. In the same context, her Africanism, expressed in her use of traditions, the establishment of an African-Catholic indigenous version of Christianity, her symbolism and philosophy as well as references to another older prophetess, Appolonia (sic!) Mafuta, receive renewed attention. The question is asked whether and in how far her court case and execution as a heretic, resulting from interventions by the Church and the King, were related to the Inquisition. Today, it is recognized that Kimpa Vita has introduced a new theology, an African version of Catholic Christianity. Finally, a post-mortem considers her influence after her death.https://www.pharosjot.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/theme_1_article_4_se1_2021__benjamin_hendrickx_kimpa_vita.pdfnganga marindakingdom of kongoafro-christianitykongo prophetismsaint anthony of paduainquisitionmother of african revolutions |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin Hendrickx, Professor Emeritus Kimpa Vita (Dona Beatriz) and “Afro-Catholicism”: reexamining controversies and unsolved problems Pharos Journal of Theology nganga marinda kingdom of kongo afro-christianity kongo prophetism saint anthony of padua inquisition mother of african revolutions |
| title | Kimpa Vita (Dona Beatriz) and “Afro-Catholicism”: reexamining controversies and unsolved problems |
| title_full | Kimpa Vita (Dona Beatriz) and “Afro-Catholicism”: reexamining controversies and unsolved problems |
| title_fullStr | Kimpa Vita (Dona Beatriz) and “Afro-Catholicism”: reexamining controversies and unsolved problems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Kimpa Vita (Dona Beatriz) and “Afro-Catholicism”: reexamining controversies and unsolved problems |
| title_short | Kimpa Vita (Dona Beatriz) and “Afro-Catholicism”: reexamining controversies and unsolved problems |
| title_sort | kimpa vita dona beatriz and afro catholicism reexamining controversies and unsolved problems |
| topic | nganga marinda kingdom of kongo afro-christianity kongo prophetism saint anthony of padua inquisition mother of african revolutions |
| url | https://www.pharosjot.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/theme_1_article_4_se1_2021__benjamin_hendrickx_kimpa_vita.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT benjaminhendrickxprofessoremeritus kimpavitadonabeatrizandafrocatholicismreexaminingcontroversiesandunsolvedproblems |