On 21 December 1622, Nzinga negotiated a peace treaty with the Portuguese in Luanda.
On 21 December 1622, Nzinga, then acting as the envoy of her brother and ruler Ngola Mbande, met with the Portuguese governor João Correia de Sousa in Luanda. Her diplomatic skills were on full display as she negotiated a peace treaty that momentarily halted the Portuguese captivity of Ndongo inhabitants, allowing some captives to return home. This meeting underscored her emerging role as a formidable diplomat and leader at a time when Portuguese interests threatened local sovereignties. The negotiation established Nzinga as an adept leader, capable of engaging colonial powers on equal footing.
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