Muxima
Muxima | |
---|---|
commune and town | |
Coordinates: 9°31′S 13°58′E / 9.517°S 13.967°E | |
Country | Angola |
Province | Luanda Province |
Area | |
• Total | 1,030 sq mi (2,670 km2) |
Population (2014)[1] | |
• Total | 8,166 |
• Density | 7.9/sq mi (3.1/km2) |
Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
Muxima is a town and commune in the municipality of Quiçama, Luanda Province, Angola.[2] The village, located by Kwanza river, was occupied in 1589 by the Portuguese who erected a church and a fortress in 1599. Muxima means "heart" in Kimbundu. It is the site of a Marian shrine. The town is the home of the 16th century Portuguese Fortress of Muxima.
Church
[edit]The church Nossa Senhora da Conceição, more well known as Nossa Senhora da Muxima, was first established in colonial Portuguese Angola in 1599.
It is a popular pilgrimage destination in Angola, that can receive more than 1 million pilgrims annually.
It became a popular pilgrimage site after a suspected Marian apparition in 1833.
During a holy mass in October 2013, an act of vandalism caused some reparable damages.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Citypopulation.de Population of provinces and communes in Angola
- ^ "City councils of Angola". Statoids. Retrieved April 6, 2009.
- ^ "Grupo de vândalos invadiu a Muxima". Jornal de Angola. Retrieved October 28, 2013.