Mutapa –
A major power in South East Africa next to Kilwa the power of the area that often seeks to attack you. It’s behind technologically since it’s Central African tech not East Africa. It has not embraced Feudalism and starts with a 50% tech increase tax and tech level 2 to East’s 3. Has vassal Butua. Wants to reestablish the empire of Zimbabwe, which it controls. It’s pretty big.
Here are it’s missions as well as Zimbabwe:
As you can see it has lots of Zimbabwe missions and the Eclipse one makes you into Zimbabwe. It’s also next to unclaimed territory for colonial stuff when you get it but that’ll be a while starting at ADMIN tech 2 and with the 50% tech at the beginning and then over time with more institutions not coming. This would likely be a military campaign with you having worse troops but a strong economy to have more, and your 2nd Idea could be quality to make them better.