Kimpa Vita (1684-1706) created the African Antonianism movement, a popular movement of spiritual resistance to colonizers.
Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know -- but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Pioneers, Dreamers, Villainesses, STEMinists, Warriors & Social Justice Warriors, and many more. Encyclopedia Womannica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.
Encyclopedia Womannica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Liz Smith, Cinthia Pimentel, and Grace Lynch. Special thanks to Shira Atkins and Edie Allard. Theme music by Andi Kristins.
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Hello! From Wonder Media Network, I’m Jenny Kaplan. And this is Encyclopedia Womannica.
In case you’re just tuning in, here’s the deal! Every weekday, we’re telling the stories of women from throughout history and around the world who you may not know about, but definitely should. Each month is themed and this month is all about Witches & Saints.
Throughout history, women have been celebrated and condemned for wielding spiritual power. This month, we’re highlighting women who made incredible contributions to and through religions, as well as those who were charged and punished for alleged heresies or supernatural abilities.
Today we’re talking about a spiritual leader who created the most popular movement of spiritual resistance in her region and era. She lived in a once-wealthy kingdom, demolished by colonial forces. Meet Beatrice of the Kongo, or Dona Beatriz Kimpa Vita.
Kimpa Vita was born to aristocratic parents in 1686, in the kingdom of Kongo -- what is now modern day Angola. Because the area had been entrenched in the Catholic tradition for two hundred years, she was likely baptized as Beatriz not long after her birth.
Kongo, once a powerful kingdom, was falling apart due to Portuguese attacks and colonialism. Twenty years earlier, the Kongolese king was killed in a battle against the European colonizers, and the kingdom shattered into smaller territories under disparate rule.
Throughout Kimpa Vita’s childhood, she was very spiritual. She was chosen for training as a priestess and healer said to be capable of convening with the supernatural.
Then in 1704, Kimpa Vita fell ill and claimed to have been possessed by the spirit of Saint Anthony of Padua, who called upon her to restore Kongo’s former unity and glory. After that experience, she founded a Catholic sect known as Antonianism. It was based on the idea that Saint Anthony was the true liberator of the people, speaking through her.
Her teachings, like many of the area’s sects, combined African tradition with Catholic influence. The story of her possession and communication with a lesser known spirit is similar to many African-based traditions. Kimpa Vita claimed that Jesus had been born in San Salvador, and Mary in the Kongolese city of Nsundi. She also rejected the Christian symbol of the cross, baptism, confession, and marriage.
Kimpa Vita made the city of San Salvador her home base, where she gave sermons and purportedly performed miracles. She made such an impact at the time that diary entries from the era reference her. One such entry, written by an Italian friar, said that Kimpa Vita, “became the restorer, ruler, and lord of the Congo, and was acclaimed, adored, and esteemed as such by everyone.”
Many of Kimpa Vita’s followers acted as missionaries, known as ‘little Anthonies’, to spread Antonian ideas across the kingdom. She hoped these missionaries would be able to help unite the fragmented kingdom of Kongo under a single king.
((((But despite Kimpa Vita’s popularity among her followers, she lost favor with King Pedro IV when she nominated someone else to the throne -- Pedro Constantinho da Silva who previously provided Kimpa Vita and her Antonian movement with an army. ))))))
The colonizers knew that Kimpa Vita’s growing movement was a threat to their plans for the kingdom, so Catholic missionaries in the area conspired with local politicians to have Kimpa Vita and her newborn baby captured.
Priests took the child into custody and Kimpa Vita was accused of being a heretic and a witch. She was burned at the stake on July 1st, 1706.
Despite attempts to crush Antonianism, remnants of the movement survived in rural corners of the country for over a decade.
Join us tomorrow to hear the story of another spiritual leader who left her mark on history!
Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator.
Talk to you tomorrow!