Editing Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba (section)

=== Peace with Portugal ===
By 1650 the kingdoms of Matamba and Portugal had been at war for nearly 25 years, with both sides having become exhausted.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781400867424-022/html|chapter=20. The European Presence, Treaty Making, And The African Response|date=8 March 2015|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-6742-4|language=en|doi=10.1515/9781400867424-022|title=Conflict in Africa: Concepts and Realities|pages=331–368}}</ref> Tentative peace talks between Nzingha and the Portuguese began in 1651, continued in 1654, and culminated in 1656.<ref name=":29">Heywood (2017) p. 173, 174</ref> The negotiations were aided by Nzingha's recent conversion to Christianity and by the pressure Portugal was facing from its [[Portuguese Restoration War|war of Independence against Spain]].<ref name=":38" /> The Portuguese hoped to end the expensive war in Angola and re-open the slave trade, while Nzingha – increasingly cognizant of her age<ref name=":28" /> – hoped to have her sister Kambu (often referred to by her Christian name, Barbara, during this period) released.<ref name=":29" /> She would not, however, pay the ransom the Portuguese demanded for her sister, and so negotiations repeatedly stalled.<ref name=":28" />

Despite difficulties, a peace treaty was signed between Nzingha and the Portuguese in late 1656. Under the term of the peace treaty, Nzingha agreed to cede lands on her kingdom's western coast to Portugal, with the [[Lucala River]] becoming the new border between Portuguese Angola and Matamba. In return, Portugal ceded the Kituxela region to her. Nzingha also agreed to allow Portuguese traders inside Matamba, while they agreed to intervene if Kasanje or Nogla Hari attacked her. The Portuguese agreed to concentrate the slave trade in a market in her capital (effectively giving her a monopoly on the slave trade) and send a permanent representative to her court. In return, Nzingha agreed to provide military assistance to the Portuguese and allowed for missionaries to reside in her kingdom. A final provision asking that Matamba pay Portugal tribute was proposed, but never ratified. While several sources<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":8" /><ref>Piętek, R. and Rubinkowska-Anioł, H., Constructing Angola's history through pictures–the case of queen Nzinga. ''THE ARTISTIC'', p.53.</ref> describe the treaty as making concessions to Portugal, others note that her recognition as a ruler by Portugal gained Nzingha legitimacy and political stability.<ref name=":31" /><ref name=":8" /> On 12 October Nzingha's sister arrived at Nzingha's court in Matamba in a procession led by Father Ignazio de Valassina. Upon Kambu's arrival to Matamba the terms of peace were officially agreed upon, and as was tradition Nzingha and her officials clapped their hands letting the Portuguese know that peace terms were accepted.<ref name=":38" />