African prince/king buried in Goa?

[V M]

Dear friends,

I vaguely recall a delegation from some African country visiting a site in Goa where an important prince/king had been buried centuries earlier in the Estado da India. Does this ring a bell for anyone? I'd be most grateful for any guidance...

Warm regards,

VM

[Bob Newman]

Hi Vivek,

  I never heard exactly about an African prince or king, but there was a Georgian queen I believe who was buried in Goa.  There was also a 16^th century Abyssinian (Ethiopian) mercenary leader who might have been buried in Daman.  Not something I know a lot about, but just thought I'd throw it out here.  

    Best.

      Bob

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From: goa-rese...@googlegroups.com <goa-rese...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of V M <vmi...@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2025 10:35 AM
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Subject: [GRN] African prince/king buried in Goa?

 

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[fredericknoronha]

In 1983, during the CHOGM Retreat in Goa, the then Prime Minister of the newly-independent Zimbabwe was keen to find some of his tribesmen, who were part of the Mutapa Empire (Mwenemutapa, Shona: Mwene we Mutapa, Portuguese: Monomotapa), who had converted to Christianity, and had served in Goa as priests. Mugabe, later on a controversial politician but then still widely respected including for his oratory, ended up at a church or ruins in Chimbel, Tiswadi. I don't think Mugabe was directly related to them, but they probably belonged to the same tribe.  Here's more on the Mutapa State and the early arrival of the Portuguese: https://zimfieldguide.com/mashonaland-central/rise-mutapa-state-and-early-arrival-portuguese-c1450-c1480

Here's some background on the wider issue: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutapa_Empire

Mugabe's visit was covered in the Herald (Goa), probably frontpaged in one of its issues of Oct-Nov 1983. FN

[V M]

Yes. This is what I remembered. Thank you very much, Frederick. Incidentally, there is another King (of Mombasa and Malindi) who was educated as a Catholic in Goa in the 17th century, but then "went back" after being installed back home. There seems to be an interesting Africa-Goa history here, that is woefully underexplored.

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[Leonard Fernandes]

This thread is such a fascinating one. Do you think it is covered in any of the many papers presented at the various seminars on Goan History. Quite a few of those proceedings have been published.

Warmly, Leonard 

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