Brief synthesisThe town of Mbanza Kongo was the political and spiritual capital of the Kingdom of Kongo, one of the largest constituted states of Southern Africa, which was active from the 14th to the 19th century. After the arrival of the Portuguese, the Kingdom adopted Christianity, while however retaining elements of pre-existing Kongo customs. The vestiges of Mbanza Kongo thus evoke the political and symbolic importance of the Kingdom in its territory and its role as a gateway enabling the Christian world to enter the African continent. The city was at the heart of the vast Kongo Kingdom that in turn was linked to a vast intercontinental network. The property illustrates the political and religious functions as they were exercised in the heart of the former Kingdom of Kongo.