Republic of Angola

Located on southern Africa’s west coast, Angola (including to the north the small former Portuguese enclave of Cabinda) is a large country of approximately 13 million people with a climate that ranges from tropical to subtropical. Angola’s capital and largest city is Luanda, which has a population of over 2 million. Thirty-seven percent of Angola’s ethnic population is Ovimbundu, 25 percent is Kimbundu, 13 percent is Bakongo, while one-quarter of the population consists of other unidentified groups. There is also a small population of mixed Portuguese and African heritage called mestiço. The major languages spoken throughout the country are Portuguese, Ovimbundu, Kimbundu, and Kongo. Nearly half of Angola’s people (47%) still practice their traditional indigenous religions, while 37 percent are Roman Catholic, and 15 percent are Protestant. After centuries of Portuguese rule and years of unrest due to its Fascist government, a national war of liberation began in 1961.

Angola finally won its independence from Portugal on November 11, 1975. Following the rapid process of decolonization, major conflicts arose between the three major parties that were vying for postcolonial power. The situation was further complicated by interference by countries such as apartheid-era South Africa and the United States, who supported UNITA, and the former Soviet Union and Cuba, who supported the MPLA during the Cold War period. Since 1975, more than 1,500,000 people have died and 2 million people have been either displaced or have fled the country. The situation has slightly improved since the end of the Cold War in 1991, but when UNITA lost the 1998 elections, their leader, Jonas Savimbi, continued the civil war allegedly funding his efforts with “blood diamonds”—illegally mined and sold diamonds. With Savimbi’s death in 2002 and the incorporation of many UNITA fighters into the government, reconciliation and peace now seem possible.

Although the economy of Angola has greatly suffered because of the war, early twenty-first century yearly oil revenues are 3.5 billion; nevertheless, since the end of the civil war corruption continues and currently 2 million people face starvation. Part of the problem is the thousands of remaining landmines, preventing the return to normal life and to the farming of the country’s fertile soil. (One in 415 Angolans has had a landmine injury.) In addition to crude oil, diamonds and minerals are important exports. Angola’s years of turmoil have prevented many cultural rites and celebrations. In addition to the historically important Kongo peoples, the Chokwe are perhaps the bestknown group, recognized for their extraordinary verbal and visual arts.