Muxima
Church of Our Lady of Conception
Church of Our Lady of Conception
Muxima is located in Angola
Muxima
Muxima
Location in Angola
Coordinates: 9°31′S 13°58′E / 9.517°S 13.967°E / -9.517; 13.967
Country Angola
ProvinceIcolo e Bengo
MunicipalityQuiçama
Area
 • Total
2,670 km2 (1,030 sq mi)
Population
 (2014)[1]
 • Total
8,166
 • Density3.06/km2 (7.92/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)

Muxima is a town and commune in the municipality of Quiçama, Icolo e Bengo Province, Angola.[2] The village, located by the Kwanza River, was occupied in 1589 by the Portuguese who erected a church and the Fortress of Muxima in 1599. Muxima means "heart" in Kimbundu and is the site of a Marian shrine.

Church

The church Nossa Senhora da Conceição, more well known as Nossa Senhora da Muxima, was first established in colonial Portuguese Angola in 1599.

It became a popular pilgrimage site after an alleged Marian apparition in 1833, and now receives over 1 million pilgrims annually.

During a Mass in October 2013, an act of vandalism caused some damage that was later repaired.[3] In April 2026, Pope Leo XIV visited the shrine to pray the rosary.

References

  1. ^ Citypopulation.de Population of provinces and communes in Angola
  2. ^ "City councils of Angola". Statoids. Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  3. ^ "Grupo de vândalos invadiu a Muxima". Jornal de Angola. Retrieved October 28, 2013.