Kimpa Vita

6 Pages 1505 Words

Kimpa Vita

The story of Dona Beatriz Kimpa Vita, a Kongolese woman alleged to be possessed by the Saint Anthony is a narrative that discusses the Catholic movement she led in her home Kingdom of Kongo. In his book, Thornton follows the life of Kimpa Vita, giving the reader a sense of the culture and daily lives of the Kongolese.
Kimpa Vita grew up in a very unstable time and heard about local events from her family and neighbors. Three ruling families competed for power in the Kongo. This resulted in numerous, seemingly unending civil wars throughout the Kingdom of Kongo. In fact, her own father was often away at war to defend the people of the Kibangu region. Turmoil had gripped the lands for many years, and the people of the Kongo began to think nothing short of a miracle would bring peace and stability back to the Kingdom.
In 1704, when Kimpa Vita was twenty years old, she apparently died and then returned to life, possessed by the Catholic Saint Anthony. As Saint Anthony, she began to preach her version of Christianity, a mix of Catholicism with traditional Kongolese beliefs. Much to the dismay of the Catholic Church, Kimpa Vita quickly attracted a large following of common people, as well as some nobility. Her message was simple and believable, and in a time of such distress, people were willing to believe almost anything that would bring them peace. Kimpa Vita taught that Jesus was actually born in Sao Salvador, and therefore wanted it to be restored as the capital of the Kingdom of Kongo. Jesus, Mary, and the Saint were also of Kongolese origin. She changed the prayer Salve Regina to Salve Antonio and dismissed the ritual of baptism. After converting many Catholics to Antonionism, Kimpa Vita was burnt at the stake on the charge of heresy.
There are many different aspects of the Antonian Movement that can be identified and examined, but perhaps the most interesting is the relationship and conflict between Christianity a...