failed, and Vili communities could be found all over Kongo and Ndongo-Matamba as well as neighboring regions between them. In addition to buying and selling slaves, the Vili became involved in local industry, specializing in smithing. Vili trade also extended inland into the lands of the Teke Kingdom and territories beyond that on the Congo River. By the late eighteenth centuries slaves from the "Bobangi" area beyond the Teke area were a significant percentage of exports. Although European shippers visited Loango regularly, they did not establish a permanent presence in the form of factories, as happened in some other parts of Africa. Rather, shippers anchored off shore and made arrangement with local officials, the mafouks, who managed trade in the royal interest and kept direct European influence at arms' length. Mafouks also benefited commercially from the arrangements, and were at times able to influence royal policy toward them and toward trade. See also Kings of Loango Kingdom of Kongo Anziku Kingdom References Sources Martin, Phyllis (1972). The External Trade of the Loango Coast, 1576-1870: The Effects of Changing Commercial Relations on the Vili Kingdom of Loango. Oxford: Oxford University Press Mertet, Annie. Autour de Loango Countries in precolonial Africa Former countries in Africa Former monarchies of Africa Former kingdoms History of the Democratic Republic of the Congo History of the Republic of the Congo Kingdom of Loango States and territories established in the 1550s States and territories disestablished in 1883 16th century in Africa 17th century in Africa 18th century in Africa 19th century in Africa