In this African History entry we explore the History of the African Kingdom Of Monomotapa.

Â In the late 1400s, Great Zimbabwe began to decline and some of the city’s elites migrated to establish what became known as the Kingdom of Monomotapa (Mutapa). Emerging under Nyatsimba Mutota, the first King, it would turn out to be a powerful Empire with Trade routes and territory extending to the Indian Ocean.

Missionary Arrival In The Monomotapa Kingdom

Led by Father Gonzalo da Silveira, a Portuguese Jesuit Missionary, the Catholics were the first Missionaries to arrive in Southern Africa, arrivingÂ at Monomotapa Court in 1556.

On his arrival, Father Silveira proved persuasive,Â baptising the King and his mother within 25 days.

Muslim Traders at the Mutapa Court did not take kindly to Silveira’s newfound influence and in a bid to stem the rise of Portuguese commercial influence in the Mutapa State, the Traders advised the newly Baptised Mutapa King that Silveira was a spy and baptism was a kind of â€˜witchcraftâ€™.