THE ROCK OF DIOGO CÃO

In 1482, Portuguese explorer Diogo Cão discovered the mouth of the Congo River. It was on this occasion that he had the following engraved on a rock: "Here arrived the ships of the most enlightened king Dom Jean II of Portugal. Diogo Cão". Two years later, Diogo Cão returned, accompanied by a team of missionaries. He disembarked at Mpinda, a small port close to the river mouth. A European way of life was to be introduced and remain in the area until Portugal abandoned it in favor of Angola. Four centuries later, in 1879, Stanley arrived.