Angola is situated on the Western coast of Southern Africa. It is bordered to the far northwest by the Republic of Congo, to the north and northeast by the Democratic Republic of Congo, to the southeast by Zambia, to the south by Namibia, and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean.
Angola has an area of 1,246,700 Sq Kilometers. A number of rivers traverse Angola, including the Kwanza, Zaire, and Cunene, Cubango e Bengo. The highest peak is Monte Moco (2,620 meters), located in Huambo.
In 1975, following a revolution in Portugal, Angola gained full independence. Portugal’s entire colonial empire collapsed which also included Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe.
Nevertheless, the name Angola comes from the Portuguese colonial’s name Reino de Angola (‘Kingdom of Angola’), which appeared as early as Paulo Dias de Novais’s 1571 charter. The toponym was derived by the Portuguese from the title ngola held by the kings of Ndongo and Matamba.
As of 2023, the Angolan population is estimated at 37.2 million. Angola is multicultural and multiethnic. Its principal cities, including its capital, Luanda, look west over the South Atlantic to Brazil. The capital and commercial centre is Luanda, a large port city on the northern coast that blends Portuguese-style colonial landmarks with traditional African housing styles and modern industrial complexes.
Angola is the largest and wealthiest of the Portuguese-speaking African states, and Portuguese influences have been felt for some 500 years, although Angola acquired its present boundaries only in 1891. Following Portugal’s own revolution in 1974, and the subsequent withdrawal of its colonial administration in 1975, the rival former independence movements competed for power until 2002.
The Southern African country is nevertheless rich in natural resources, including precious gems, metals, and petroleum; indeed, it ranks among the highest of the oil-producing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Meanwhile, much of its oil wealth lies in its separate Cabinda province, where a decades-long separatist conflict simmers.
Although economic reforms beginning in 1988 eliminated many of the failed socialist experiments, and foreign interests were allowed to invest capital more freely, the war consistently discouraged such investment and hampered the rebuilding of basic infrastructure in most of the country. However, the Angolan government has focused on reconstruction since the end of the war in 2002. The overall state of the economy has improved since then as well, largely owing to the income generated from the country’s petroleum industry.
An ambitious program to expand museums, libraries, and archives, initiated in the postindependence era, has borne little fruit. A National Institute for Cultural Heritage does exist in Luanda, but material from other local museums was either looted or removed to Luanda during the course of the war.
The Kalandula waterfall is located in the center of the Malanje region of Angola. The Kalandula waterfall, which is 400 meters broad and 105 meters high, is the second greatest in Africa, just behind Victoria Falls. Along with these breathtaking natural wonders, Angola is also home to expanses of arid savanna and verdant highlands.
The enormous sable antelope, a national symbol of Angola, was recently discovered there after being believed to be long extinct. Males of this gigantic species may grow their horns to about 165 centimeters, making them notable for their immense height.
Although Portuguese is the official language of Angola, many of the original tongues have persisted and are widely used today. Umbundu, Kimbundu, Kikongo, and Tchokwe are a few of them. Also, the traditional dance of Angola is known as semba, and it is said to be the ancestor of the Brazilian samba.
The National Historical Archive, also in Luanda, houses material dating to the 17th century. The Kongo Kingdom Museum in M’banza Congo is home to many cultural artifacts. Many other fine collections built up in colonial times were destroyed, dispersed, or made unavailable to the public. Following the end of the civil war in 2002, the government and private organizations began the process of renovating or rebuilding cultural institutions damaged in the war.
As in much of sub-Saharan Africa, palm oil is an indispensable part of many Angolan dishes, and a number of dishes emphasize the Angolan population’s love of seafood. The feast of Nganja, usually celebrated in April, is a harvest festival during which children roast corn. The Futungo market, near Luanda, provides craftsmen with a place to sell their handicrafts.
Angola’s population is overwhelmingly Christian. About two-fifths of the population is Roman Catholic, about two-fifths is Protestant, and some one-tenth adheres to traditional beliefs or other religions. As of 2014 census, there are 195,000 Muslims in Angola, representing 1% of total population.
Most Muslims in Angola are Sunni. They are generally foreign migrants from West Africa and the Middle East, although a few are local converts. There exist several Islamic organizations that run mosques, schools and community centers. The Association of the Development of Islam in Angola is the primary proselytizing organization.
Muslim Angolans are represented by the Supreme Council of Angolan Muslims of Luanda. As of 2020, the Angolan government does not legally recognize any Muslim organizations; as a result, mosques in the country have faced restrictions and many have been shut down by the government.
