Ndongo
/nˈdɔŋɡoʊ/noun
A historical Kimbundu-speaking kingdom in west-central Africa, centered in present-day Angola.
Did you know?Queen Njinga of Ndongo became famous for resisting Portuguese expansion and using diplomacy, warfare, and shifting alliances to defend her kingdom in the 17th century.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-16th Century
Kimbundu
Ndongo
“The indigenous name of a Kimbundu-speaking polity in west-central Africa; its deeper literal meaning is not securely established.”
16th Century
Portuguese
Ndongo
“Portuguese records begin documenting the African kingdom encountered east of the Atlantic coast.”
1570s
Portuguese
Reino de Ndongo
“The Kingdom of Ndongo, described in colonial accounts during Portugal’s military expansion in the region.”
17th Century
Kimbundu/Portuguese
Njinga a Mbande of Ndongo
“The kingdom associated with Queen Njinga, who resisted Portuguese domination and negotiated from a position of power.”
Modern English
English
Ndongo
“A historical kingdom of Angola, frequently discussed in African, Atlantic, and colonial history.”