Kongo people of Central Africa consider life a process shared with the ancestors, spirits, and a Supreme God. Since 1491, they have added Christian teachings to these beliefs. Symbols that invoke the sun's journey across the sky enable Kongo people to open portals to the invisible world and call on their ancestors for guidance. Enslaved Kongo people carried their beliefs to the Americas, where enduring respect for the ancestors sustained them through adversity. In this section, learn about Kongo beliefs in Africa and the Americas.