Mani Congo

Depiction of Manikongo from 1685

Mani-Kongo or Mwene Kongo (Eng. Lord of the Congo ) was the traditional title for the rulers of the Congo Empire from the 14th century . After the defeat of the empire, the office has continued as an ethnic institution to the present day, but has no direct political or constitutional significance.

List of Mani-Congo of the Congo

The Mani-Congo were elected by the council of elders from either the Kimpanzu or the Kimulazu clan. There are exceptions, however, which are marked in the list.

Mani-Congo of the Empire

• Ntinu á Nimi Wene Lukeni (approx. 1370 - approx. 1420, founder of the state - Ne Kongo)
• Nanga á Nimi kia Ntinu Congo (approx. 1420 - approx. 1450)
• Wene á Ntinu Ne Kongo (approx. 1450 - approx. 1470)
• Nkuwu á Wene (approx. 1470 - approx. 1480)
• João I. (Nzinga á Nkuwu) approx. 1480 / before 1482 - 1505 )
• Afonso I (Mvemba á Nzinga) ( 1505 - 1543 )
• Pedro I. (Nkanga á Mwemba) (1543– 1545 )
• Francisco I. (Mpudi á Nzinga Mvemba) (1545–1545)
• Diogo I (Nkumbi Mpudi á Nzinga) (1545– 1561 )
• Afonso II (Mvemba á Nzinga) (1561–1561)
• Bernardo I (Mvemba á Nzinga) (1561– 1566 )
• Henrique I. (Mpudi á Mvemba Nzinga) (1566– 1567 )
• Alvaro I. (Mpangu á Nimi Lukeni lua Mvemba) (1568– 1587 )
• Alvaro II (Mpangu á Nimi Lukeni lua Mvemba) (1587– 1614 )
• Bernardo II. (Mpangu á Nimi Lukeni Lua Mvemba) (1614- 1615 )
• Alvaro III. (Mpangu á Nimi Lukeni lua Mvemba) (1615– 1622 )
• Pedro II Afonso (Nkanga á Mvika lua Ntumba á Mvemba) (1622– 1624 )
• Garcia I (Mvemba á Nkanga Ntinu) (1624– 1626 )
• Ambrosio (Mvemba á Nkanga Ntinu) (1626– 1631 )
• Alvaro IV (Mvemba á Nkanga Ntinu) (1631– 1636
• Alvaro V. (Mvemba á Nkanga Ntinu) (1636–1636)
• Alvaro VI. (Mvemba á Nkanga Ntinu) (1636– 1642 ) not from the traditional clan
• Garcia II (Nkanga á Lukeni) (1642– 1661 )
• Antonio I (Vita á Nkanga) ( 1661 - 1665 ), the last independent Mani-Congo of the Congo Empire

Mani-Congo Provinces

Mani-Congo in Mbanza Congo (São Salvador)

• Alvaro VII. (Mpangu-a-Nsundi) (1665- 1666 ) is not of traditional communities
• Alvaro VIII (1666–1666) not from the traditional clan
• Rafael (1669 1674 )
• Daniel (Mpangu-a-Miyala) (1674- 1678 )
• unknown (1678– 1694 )
• Pedro IV. Nsaku-a-Mvemba (1694–1718) not from traditional clan, later deleted
• Pedro Constantino (Mpangu) (1718–?) Also listed as Pedro IV after deleting the predecessor

Mani-Congo in Ki-Mpangu

• Afonso III. (1667–1669)
• Garcia III. Nkanga-a-Mvemba (1669–1678)
• André I. Nlaza (? –1679)
• Álvaro IX. Nimi-a-Mvemba (? –1680) not from traditional clan
• Manuel I. Nzinga (? –1680)
• Pedro IV. Nsaku-a-Mvemba (1694–1718) not from a traditional clan

Mani Congo in Mbula

• Pedro III. Nsuku-a-Ntamba (1667–1683)
• João II Nsuku-a-Ntamba (1683-1717)

Obscure period

Mani-Congo of this time would have to include the following rulers due to the numbering of later incumbents:

• Alvaro X.
• Antonio II
• Garcia IV.
• Henrique II.
• Manuel II

However, their order and existence in detail is not certain.

Mani-Congo as a cultural institution

• Henrique III. (1793-1802)
• Alvaro XI. (1802-1802)
• Garcia V (Nkanga-a-Mvemba) (1802-1830)
• André II (1830–?)
• André III. (? –1842)
• Henrique IV. (Lunga) (1842-1858)
• Alvaro XII. (1858-1859)
• Pedro V. (Kivuzi) (1859-1891)
• Alvaro XIII. (Mfutila) (1891-1896)
• unknown (1896–1901)
• Pedro VI. (1901-1912)
• Manuel III (1912-1915)
• Alvaro XIV. (1915-1923)
• Pedro VII (1923-1955)
• Antonio III (1955–1957)
• Isabel (1957-1952), regent
• Pedro VIII. (1962–1962)
• Isabel (1962–1975?), Regent again

swell

• To the dynasty
• To the dynasty