KONGOKING: ancient texts
The KongoKing research group is in the process of compiling a database containing historical documentation on the Kongo Kingdom from the 15th to the 19th century. We are happy to share with you this work in progress.
This database will include:
> historical texts and testimonies on the Kongo Kingdom, if possible, linked to a digital copy;
> engravings pertaining to the Kongo Kingdom together their annotations;
> ancient maps of Africa containing relevant information on the Kongo Kingdom.
> BONTINCK (F.), 1970, Luca da Caltanisetta, Diaire congolais (1690-1701), Publications de l'Université Lovanium de Kinshasa, Volume 24, Nauwelaerts, Louvain.
> CARDOSO (M.), 1624, Historia do reino de Congo, manuscrit 8080, Biblioteca Nacional, Lisboa.
(French version edited by F.Bontinck and J.Castro Segovia, 1972, Histoire du royaume de Congo (C.1624), Etudes d'Histoire Africaine, IV, Nauwelaerts, Louvain - Paris).
> CARLI (D.) and GUATTINI (M.), 1674, Viaggio de Carli Dionigi e Guattini Michelangelo nel regno del Congo, Bologna.
(recent French translation: 2006, La mission au Kongo des pères Michelangelo Guattini et Dionigi Carli (1668), Chandeigne, Paris. Translation: A. du Cheyron d'Abzac. Notes by: J.Thornton) [D.Carli mainly speaks about the Mbemba province visited in 1668]
> CAVAZZI DE MONTECUCCOLO (G.A.), c.1668, Missione evangelica nel Regno de Congo, manuscript.
Online version here.
> CAVAZZI DE MONTECUCCOLO (G.A.), 1687, Istorica descrittione de'tre regni Congo, Matamba et Angola situavi nell'Etiopia inferiore occidentale e delle missioni apostoliche esercitatevi da religiosi capuccini, Bologna. [two volumes edition in Italian published in 1965 and with notes by Graciano Maria de Leguzzano; a french version was published by J.B. Labat in 1732, see below).
version Google pdf in Italian (91 Mo).
> CAVAZZI DE MONTECUCCOLO (G.A.), 1687, "Njinga, reine d’Angola".
(French edition in 2010: Njinga, reine d’Angola. La relation d'Antonio Cavazzi de Montecuccolo (1687), Editions Chandeigne, Col. Magellane n° 44, Paris. Notes by L.Heywood and J.Thornton. Translation by A. du Cheyron d’Abzac.)
> CUVELIER (J.), 1953, Relations sur le Congo du Père Laurent de Lucques, 1700-1717, Mémoires de l'Académie royale des sciences d'outre-mer, Classe des sciences morales et politiques, volume 32, Institut royal colonial belge, Bruxelles, 352 pages. [de Lucques mostly stayed in Soyo province from 1700 to 1717]
> CUVELIER (J.) and JADIN (L.), 1954, L'ancien Congo d'après les archives romaines 1518-1640, Académie Royale des Sciences Coloniales, section des sciences morales et politiques, mémoires, collection in 8°, tome XXXVI, fasc.2, série historique, Bruxelles, 600 pages.
> DAPPER (O.), 1676, Naukeurige Beschrijvinge der Afrikaensche Gewesten, Jacob van Meurs, Amsterdam. Dutch second edition, 81 Mo from Google.
> DAPPER (O.), 1686, Description de l'Afrique, Wolfgang - Waesberge - Boom et van Someren, Amsterdam. French version 141 Mo from Google.
Dutch original dated 1668 & 1676, German and English translations dated 1670, French version dated 1686. All of these translations have problems with occasional mistranslations but more significantly, abbreviation of the contents. The German and English versions are the most faithful, both in translation and inclusion of the original material, the French edition is generally regarded as quite deficient.
> FRANCO (A.), 1623-1637, Chronique, Manuscrit, Biblioteca Nacional, Lisboa.
Online version here. [Franco stayed in Mbanza Kongo from 1623 to 1637]
> GIOIA (F.M.), 1669, La Maravigliosa conversione alla santa fede di Cristo della regina Singa e del suo regno di Matamba, nell'Africa meridionale, descritta... dal P. F. Francesco Maria Gioia, G. Passaro, Napoli.
> GRANDPRE (L. de), 1801, Voyage a la côte occidentale d'Afrique, fait dans les années 1786 et 1787, Paris. [Angola, Cabinda. Engravings]
Voir http://hitchcock.itc.virginia.edu;
Full online version on Gallica.
> HILDEBRAND (P.), 1940, Le martyr Georges de Geel et les débuts de la mission du Congo (1645-1652), Archives des Capucins, Anvers, 430 pages.
[text written by Hildebrand based on direct analysis of manuscripts and other documents in the Capucins archives. Documents describe San Salvador, Mbanza Soyo, Mbanza Mbata, Mbanza Matari between 1645 and 1652]
> JADIN (L.), 1975, L'ancien Congo et l'Angola 1639-1655 d'après les archives romaines, portugaises, néerlandaises et espagnoles, 3 volumes, Bruxelles - Rome.
> LABAT (J.B.), 1732, Relation historique de l'Éthiopie occidentale: contenant la description des royaumes de Congo, Angolle & Matamba, Charles-Jean-Baptiste Delespine, Paris.
Volume I - Google pdf,
Volume II - Google pdf,
Volume III - Google pdf,
Volume IV - Google pdf,
Volume V - Google pdf.
The French translation of the Cavazzi volume of 1687 is to be found in volumes I to III.
> MEROLLA (G.), 1692, Breve e succinta relatione del viaggio nel regno di Congo nell' Africa Meridionale, F.Mollo, Napoli. (engravings in this book; 1684-1688 testimony)
> MONTESARCHIO (G.da), Viaggio del Ghongo cioe e relatione scritta da un nostro missionario capuccino, (1648-1688).
> PIGAFETTA (F.), 1591, Relatione di reame di Congo et delle circonvicine contrade, Bartolomeo Grassi, Roma.
Online full original version - from Gallica.
(french version : 2002, Le royaume de Congo et les contrées avoisinantes (1491). La description de Filippo Pigafetta et Duarte Lopez présentée, translated and noted by Willy Bal, Chandeigne/UNESCO, Paris.)
> PROYART (Abbé L.-B.), 1776, Histoire de Loango, Kakongo et autres royaumes d'Afrique, C.P.Berton & N.Crapart, Paris.
Online full original version - from Gallica.
> ROMA (G.F. da), 1648, Breve relatione del successo della missione de' frati minori cappuccini del serafico P. S. Francesco al regno del Congo, Roma. (French translation, François Bontinck, 1964).
> VAISSETE (J.) Dom, 1755, Géographie historique, ecclésiastique et civile ou description de toutes les parties du globe terrestre enrichie de cartes géographiques, Tome 4, Desaint et Saillant - Jean-Thomas Herissant - Jacques Barois, Paris.
version Google pdf (47 Mo) .
> VAN DER AA (P.), 1729, La Galerie Agréable du Monde, Leide. (engravings about the Kongo kingdom)
> ZUCHELLI (A.), 1712, Relazione del viaggio e missione di Congo nell'Etiopia Inferiore Occidentale, Venezia. (1700-1702).