1526-1867: West Central Africa was characterized by significant state formations, making its political landscape more complex than other regions of western A…

1526-1867: West Central Africa was characterized by significant state formations, making its political landscape more complex than other regions of western Africa. Enslaved individuals from this vast area were often collectively referred to as “Congos” in the Americas, despite being drawn from a wide array of distinct ethnolinguistic groups. Portuguese traders drew heavily from marauding chiefs whose sources were often the Ovimbundu people or those living within the Lunda Confederacy. This diverse demographic makeup underscores the far-reaching impact of the trade on the internal social and political structures of the African interior.