Approches comparative et analytique des pratiques funéraires anciennes à Mbanza Kongo (Province du Zaïre, Angola)

A comparative analysis of ancient funerary practices at Mbanza Kongo, the former capital of the Kingdom of Kongo, reveals how local cultual traditions persisted despite Christian influence. The study, using biological anthropology and archaeothanatology, examined two sites to determine burial chronology, architecture, spatial distribution, and inhumation methods. It found that while Christian elements were present in funerary practices, indigenous beliefs and rituals remained prominent, demonstrating cultural resilience in a medieval African society at the forefront of cultural metissage. The research also compared funerary dynamics between Mbanza Kongo and northern provinces of the Kingdom of Kongo, highlighting unique regional variations.

Tollo, E. C. (2023). Approches comparative et analytique des pratiques funéraires anciennes à Mbanza Kongo (Province du Zaïre, Angola). Afriques, 14. https://doi.org/10.4000/afriques.4131