Locations
Reconnect. Preserve. Transform.
Massangano was one of the main departure points in the transatlantic slave trade. Today, it can become a space of reunion, cultural identity, and sustainable development.
The “Roots Reconnected” Campaign is an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture of Angola, in partnership with UNDP Angola and the American Chamber of Commerce, to promote purpose-driven tourism and strengthen the ties between Angola and the African diaspora.
Your donation can help celebrate African heritage and create opportunities for local communities.
Discover Massangano
Located on the banks of the Kwanza River, in Cuanza Norte Province, Massangano is one of Angola’s most striking historic sites. Its territory was a stage of resistance, cultural exchange, and also one of the main departure points in the transatlantic slave trade. Today, Massangano preserves this legacy in its fortress, its old church, and in the traditions upheld by the local communities.
The river's natural beauty, the green landscapes, and the population's hospitality make Massangano not only a place of memory but also a destination for cultural and nature-based tourism. It is here that history, spirituality, and the future converge.
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The Court of Detention (Tribunal de Reclusão) and the Town Hall were built in 1600 and served as instruments to legitimize slavery. Captured people were subjected to summary trials to justify their…
Court of Detention and Townhall -
The space was also used to imprison those who resisted enslavement, showing how colonial justice was directly tied to the slave trade.
Court of Detention and Townhall -
The Fortress of Massangano, built by the Portuguese in the 17th century, was initially a military defense post but also became a holding center for captives. After forced baptisms, the enslaved were…
Fortress of Massangano -
Beyond functioning as a prison, the fortress was one of the main sites of colonial control in the region, linking military history with the history of the slave trade in Angola.
Fortress of Massangano -
The Slave Square, located east of the village of Massangano, was used by Portuguese colonizers as a marketplace for the sale of people captured in various regions of Angola.
Slave Square -
The site remains one of the most powerful symbols of Massangano’s integration into the transatlantic slave trade system.
Slave Square -
Known as the “cruzeiro”, the confluence of the Kwanza and Lucala rivers had great strategic importance for the colonizers. It was used as a transport route for people and goods, connecting Massangano…
Confluence of the Kwanza and Lucala Rivers -
The Port of Nguimbi-Song-Massangano was used by the colonial elite as a point of embarkation for enslaved people. From this port, ships departed carrying Angolans to the Americas, making it a direct…
Trail to Port of Nguimbi-Song-Massangano -
The Church of Our Lady of Victory was built after the defeat of the Kingdom of Ndongo by Portuguese troops. It symbolizes the consolidation of colonial rule in Massangano and replaced the former…
Church of Our Lady of Victory -
Massangano is also the resting place of Paulo Dias de Novais, founder of Luanda and the first governor of Angola. His tomb in the town reinforces Massangano’s importance as a colonial power center in…
Resting place of Paulo Dias de Novais,
Roots Reconnected
Americans descended from enslaved Angolans have been returning to Massangano and the Kwanza Corridor. Their words reveal how this journey is both a personal discovery and a collective reunion.”
Be part of this journey: Donate and share.
- Support the transformation of Massangano into a place where communities with African and Angolan roots can reconnect with their history, celebrate their origins, and build new ties between continents.
- Help preserve a heritage that belongs to us all.
- Build a space of learning, recognition, and belonging.