Afonso V of Kongo

Afonso V of the Congo (Ndo Mfunsu V in Kikongo and Afonso V in Portuguese) was a Kinlaza manikongo of the Kingdom of Kongo from 1785 to 1787.[1]

He succeeded to his brother José I of Kongo without any struggle in April 1785 and was part of the southern faction of the Kanda Kinzala based in Nkondo. He was a king known for his piety and took the pompous title of the powerful Dom Alfonso V, King of Congo, ruler of part of Ethiopia in his letters.[2] It is possible he was poisoned by his successor in order to seize the throne. His sudden death caused a period of turmoil within the nation that would not end until Henrique II took the throne.[3]

  1. ^ Kwame Anthony Appiah (2005). Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience. Oxford University Press. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-19-517055-9.
  2. ^ Thorton, John K. (2000). "Mbanza Kongo/Sao Salvador: Kongo's Holy City". In Anderson, David M.; Rathbone, Richard (eds.). Africa's Urban Past. Oxford: James Currey Ltd. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-85255-761-7.
  3. ^ The History Files: Kings of Kongo: http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsAfrica/AfricaAngola.htm