Alfonso I of Kongo Builds Christian Schools and Writes to Portugal

Mvemba a Nzinga, baptized Alfonso I, becomes Manikongo of Kongo and pursues a sweeping Christianization program: he builds schools teaching Latin and theology, sends sons to study in Lisbon, and writes over 20 letters to Portuguese kings demanding an end to abusive slave trading. His letters are among the earliest African diplomatic correspondence in the colonial era.