Congo Mango’s name reflects his African origins — he was almost certainly born in the Kongo region of Central Africa, most of which lies in what is now Angola. Mango and Mander, the latter of which Congo later adopted as his surname, are both names of Bantu origin. It was very rare for an African American family to retain its African name — a name that has been passed down to many generations of Congo’s descendants, even to the present day.

Congo signed the document with an X, indicating that he was probably illiterate.


Special thanks to Professor John Thornton of Boston University for his help in determining the origin of Congo Mango/Mander’s name.

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