Africa-Press – Angola. Researchers Frederico Carducci, born in the city of Lecce, in Italy, and Angolan sociologist and anthropologist Paracleto Mombela have been since yesterday in Mbanza Kongo, province of Zaire, with the aim of obtaining more information about the role of African sects in the history of the then Kingdom from Kongo.
The results of the research they carry out in the region, through oral sources and beyond, will serve to support their doctoral work.
Upon arrival, both researchers were received at Lumbu (Traditional Court) by the coordinator of the core of traditional authorities in the region, Afonso Mendes, who guided a ritual of blessing to visitors, held at the cemetery of the Kings of the former Kingdom of Kongo.
“I realized through colleagues the need to get to know Mbanza Kongo due to the cultural and religious richness it has. My work is limited to the role of religious sects in the context of the reconciliation of Angola, in the contemporary period. Angola, for having a very different historical cultural experience from the rest of the country, whether in terms of the relationship with the Portuguese during the colonial period, or in religious and social terms”, said the Italian Frederico Carducci.
According to the Italian researcher, for a week he will make guided visits to different religious sects, namely Bundo Dia Kongo, Ecuesi, Evangelical Baptist Church in Angola (IEBA) and Kimbanguista, wing 26, to research the social role they play, their trajectories, to supply the current lack of bibliographic information.
“I believe it is very important to rediscover African sects and prophetic in cultural and religious terms, knowledge that will allow evaluating the interaction of these sects with people in the context of modernization, since they are perceived as traditional and conservative. It is clear that they also have an important social role of socializing with people, of redefining the relationship with the State, as well as the question of reconciliation and social harmony”, he stressed.
According to an Italian researcher, the investigation aims to understand the importance of the connections that Christianity had with the Kingdom of Kongo and to deepen the theme of the connection with spiritual entities (spirit), very present in the various religious sects of the region.
“It’s interesting to know the history of the different religious sects in this region, the cultural trajectory, a little carried out research, especially in a country that has had several divisions and visions over the years. The lack of a bibliographic collection on the subject makes it difficult for any foreign researcher, for So, we go through oral sources to obtain more information”, said Frederico Carducci, who said he was enjoying Mbanza Kongo, because you can see the cultural richness in the dialogue with people.
For his part, the Angolan researcher Paracleto Mombela defends the need to carry out anthropological studies, because they can help in the rescue and preservation of the cultural traits and idiosyncrasy of the ancestors.
“Anthropology can bring awareness to the population, bearing in mind the need to rescue our traditions, as they are being invaded by other languages and cultures from neighboring countries, the consequence of which is the loss of many cultural values. In this context, the traits cultural heritage that survived must be preserved with the support of anthropological studies,” he said.
The coordinator of the nucleus of the traditional authorities of Lumbu (Traditional Court), Afonso Mendes, was satisfied with the constant visits made to the monuments and sites of Mbanza Kongo, whether by tourists or by foreign and national researchers, insofar as it marks a important step towards promoting its dissemination and preservation.
“Since this city was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, on July 8, 2017, many tourists have come to discover the history of this city”, he said.
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