The History Of The Ancient African Kingdom Of Kongo.
We Look At The History of The Ancient African Kingdom of Kongo:
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In terms of government, the kingdom of Kongo had a much centralised system of government, ruled by a powerful monarch called nkani who in turn appointed regional governors throughout the land.
These governors held enormous powers and in turn appointed local officials and collected tribute such as millet, palm wine, ivory, leopard skin, and lion skins from the local chiefs. These items were then passed on to the king at Mbanza Kongo.
Before the 16th Century A.D the Kongolese textiles were well distinguished crafts, the peoples living in eastern Kongo and nearby regions manufactured quality damasks, sarcenets, satins, taffeta, cloth of tissue and velvet.
The designs were in different styles.
Professor DeGraft-Johnson made a curious observation that: “Their brocades, both high and low, and were far more valuable than the Italians in quality.”
The Kongo Kingdom is found in present day Northern Angola, Western part of Democratic republic of Congo, Republic of Congo and Southernmost part of Gabon, it was a sovereign kingdom from 1390-1859 with it’s Capital in Mbanza-Kongo now Sao Salvador in Angola.
The Clothing and textiles of this kingdom with the surrounding kingdoms were mainly made by the women and was exported into other Kingdoms in exchange for cowries and later the Manilla Currency.
