THE BLACK HAND OF GOD

Beatrice Kimpa Vita was born in 1684 in the kingdom of Kongo. While still in her teens, she started a non-violent mission to liberate the Kingdom of Kongo and return it to its former glory. She fought all the forms of slavery, and tried to reconcile Christianity with African religions and beliefs, teaching people that black saints mingled with white saints in paradise. This was revolutionary, since Catholic priests in the area (Capuchins) taught that ONLY white saints could be found in heaven. Kimpa Vita led thousands of her people to rebuild and repopulate Mbanza Kongo, the capital of the once glorious unified Kingdom of Kongo. On July 2, 1706, she was burned at the stake for heresy. In 1710, the perpetrators sent a report of their "mission" to the pope, after having organized the persecution of her followers.

The Impact of Her Action

In 1739, some of her followers, sold as slaves in America, carried out the revolt well known as the "Stono rebellion" in South Carolina, and her teachings also may have inspired the action of former Kongo slaves, during the revolt which led to the independence of Haiti in 1804. Dona Beatrice is today regarded as a prophetess and a symbol of non-violent resistance in Africa, inspiring many political and religious leaders in Congo and Angola. In fact, she is widely credited as being the founder of the first Black Christian movement in sub-Saharan Africa. 

The Importance & Interest Of Her Rehabilitation

The French people rehabilitated Jeanne d' Arc (Joan of Arc) five centuries after her death. She then became "Sainte Jeanne d' Arc"(Saint-Joan of Arc), in spite of the controversy around her life. Dona Beatrice Kimpa Vita was a victim of the religious intolerance and racism raging in her country and continent. Despite her accomplishments, Pope Paul VI rejected a request for her rehabilitation in 1966.

Important Links About Kimpa Vita

http://www.katinkahesselink.net/his/kimpavita.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimpa_Vita

http://www.dacb.org/stories/congo/kimpa_vita.html

http://www.executedtoday.com/2009/07/02/1706-dona-beatriz-kimpa-vita-kongo/

Ancient Map of the Kingdom of Kongo

The Kingdom of Kongo was an African kingdom located in West Central Africa roughly at the mouth of the great Congo River. The ruler of the unified kingdom was known as the Mwene Kongo, or “Lord of the Kongo.” A once powerful and influential kingdom, its territories at one time or another included parts of modern Angola, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The kingdom existed in some form or another from roughly the late 1300’s A.D. to just after 1900.

Kimpa Vita

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