Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Muxima

Lore & Background

The village of Muxima was occupied by the Portuguese in 1589, and ten years later, in 1599, the Fortress of Muxima was founded and the church was built with a prayer invoking the intercession of Nossa Senhora da Muxima. The church played a key role in the slave trade, as it was where enslaved people were baptized before being deported. On 20 April 2026, the shrine received Pope Leo XIV during his African tour, and he prayed the rosary before the image of Our Lady of Muxima.

Reader's Guide

The Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Muxima is a significant historical and religious site in Angola. Built in the 16th century, it is a spacious and strong building with stern, typically Portuguese architecture, situated above the Kwanza River. It was set on fire by the Dutch Republic in 1641 when they captured Muxima, and later modified. The shrine, with its image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, has been a place of great devotion for Christian pilgrims for generations. It was classified as a National Monument by Portuguese Provincial Decree No. 2 on 12 January 1924. The church belongs to the Roman Catholic Church, with responsibility for its maintenance and preservation belonging to the Angolan Ministry of Culture. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on 22 November 1996 in the Cultural category. Its legacy is intertwined with both colonial history and the slave trade, as well as enduring Catholic pilgrimage.

Did You Know?

• The church was built in 1599, the same year the Fortress of Muxima was founded.
• Slaves were baptized in this church before being deported during the Portuguese slave trade.
• The church was set on fire by the Dutch Republic in 1641 when they captured Muxima.
• Pope Leo XIV visited the shrine on 20 April 2026 and prayed the rosary before the image of Our Lady of Muxima.