Objective The magnificent Kongo kingdom, which arose in the Atlantic Coast region of Equatorial Africa, is a famous emblem of Africa’s past. It is an important cultural landmark for Africans and the African Diaspora. Thanks to its early introduction to literacy and involvement in the Trans- Atlantic trade, the history of this part of sub-Saharan Africa from 1500 onwards is better known than most other parts. Nevertheless, very little is known about the origins and earlier history of the kingdom. Hence, this grant application proposes an interdisciplinary approach to this question. Archaeology and historical linguistics, two key disciplines for early history reconstruction in Africa, will play the most prominent role in this approach. Paradoxically, if the wider region of the Kongo kingdom is one of the best documented areas of Central Africa from a historical and ethnographic point of view, it is virtually unknown archaeologically. The proposed research team will therefore undertake pioneer excavations in several capital sites of the old kingdom. Similarly, no comprehensive historical study has covered the languages of the Kongo and closely affiliated kingdoms. Nonetheless, the earliest documents with Bantu data, going back to the early 16th century, originate from this region. The proposed research team will therefore undertake a historical-comparative study of the Kikongo dialect cluster and surrounding language groups, such as Kimbundu, Teke and Punu-Shira, systematically comparing current-day data with data from the old documents. Special attention will be given to cultural vocabulary related to politics, religion, social organization, trade and crafts, which in conjunction with the archaeological discoveries, will shed new light on th Fields of science humanitieslanguages and literaturelinguisticshumanitieshistory and archaeologyhistoryhumanitieshistory and archaeologyarchaeologyhumanitiesphilosophy, ethics and religionreligions Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-SH6 - ERC Starting Grant - The study of the human past Call for proposal ERC-2011-StG_20101124 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Coordinator UNIVERSITEIT GENT Address Sint pietersnieuwstraat 25 9000 Gent Belgium See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Oost-Vlaanderen Arr. Gent Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Saskia Vanden Broeck (Ms.) Principal investigator Koen André Georges Bostoen (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Beneficiaries (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITEIT GENT Belgium EU contribution € 1 347 960,00 Address Sint pietersnieuwstraat 25 9000 Gent See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Oost-Vlaanderen Arr. Gent Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Saskia Vanden Broeck (Ms.) Principal investigator Koen André Georges Bostoen (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data UNIVERSITE LIBRE DE BRUXELLES Belgium EU contribution € 38 400,00 Address Avenue franklin roosevelt 50 1050 Bruxelles / brussel See on map Region Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/ Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest Arr. de Bruxelles-Capitale/Arr. Brussel-Hoofdstad Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Beata Bibrowska (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data MUSEE ROYAL DE L'AFRIQUE CENTRALE Belgium EU contribution € 14 400,00 Address Leuvensesteenweg 13 3080 Tervuren See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Els Thielemans (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data
