Bust of Antonio Manuel ne Vunda, Ambassador from the Kingdom of Kongo to the Vatican. Ne Vunda arrived in Rome on 3 January 1608, but he died two days later of illness. The bust was sculpted by Francesco Caporale for the ambassador’s tomb in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. [3072 x 4096] [OC]

From Wikipedia: Antonio ne Vunda was sent in 1604 by King Alvaro II of Kongo as ambassador to the Holy See.

He set out in 1604 from Mbanza Congo (capital of the kingdom of Kongo, now in Angola); during the voyage he was attacked by pirates, but managed to save himself and land in Spain, from where he reached Genoa and then Rome three years later.

His retinue had been decimated and his health was severely compromised due to the vicissitudes he experienced during the voyage. Upon his arrival in Rome, Pope Paul V gave orders to treat him, and considering that the ambassador could not move from his bed, the pope went to Ne Vunda’s bedside to receive his credentials and embassy.

A few hours after the meeting, Antonio ne Vunda died, on January 6, 1608, being later buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.