Religious Angola: A Deeply Spiritual Country

Angola is a secular state that guarantees freedom of religion in its constitution. However, the country has a complex history of religious repression and control, with the government suppressing the spread of religions beyond those that are mainstream and controllable. While Christianity is the predominant religion, with Catholicism being the largest denomination, there is also a significant Protestant population, and a smaller percentage of the population adheres to traditional beliefs, Islam, Judaism, and Baháʼí, among others.

Angola's religious demographics

Angola is a secular state and its constitution guarantees freedom of religion. However, the government has been accused of suppressing the spread of religions beyond those that are considered mainstream and controllable.

Christianity is the predominant religion in Angola, with Catholicism being its largest denomination. About 40% of the population is Roman Catholic, and around 40% is Protestant. Some 10% of the population adheres to traditional beliefs or other religions, while 12% have no religion.

The current religious makeup of Angola has its roots in the country’s history. In pre-colonial times, Angolans of various groups followed broadly similar religious traditions that revolved around venerating ancestors and worshipping territorially oriented deities under a creator high god. The Portuguese introduced Christianity into the Kongo kingdom in the 15th century, and since the mid-16th century, most Kongo have regarded themselves as Christians, although their practice has often mixed Christian and traditional beliefs.

In the late 19th century, Protestant missionaries entered Angola and made numerous converts among both the Roman Catholic population and those who still followed traditional religions. Baptists operated in the north, Methodists in the Kimbundu-speaking regions, and Congregationalists in areas of Ovimbundu settlement and in the east.

The Angolan government has been accused of suppressing the spread of religions beyond those that are considered mainstream and controllable. It has not recognized any Muslim groups or issued licenses to Muslim groups to practice their religion legally or build mosques. There are around 69 unregistered mosques in the country.

The government requires religious groups to seek recognition by meeting specific criteria and allows the shuttering of unregistered groups. There are 81 recognized religious groups and more than 1,100 unrecognized religious groups. No new religious groups have been recognized since 2004.

The history of religious repression in Angola

Angola's history of religious repression stands in stark contrast to its official representations of religious tolerance. The Angolan regime keeps religion under strict government control, suppressing the spread of churches beyond those that are mainstream and controllable.

From 1977 to 1991, the MPLA government's commitment to Marxism-Leninism meant that its attitude towards religion, at least officially, was one of hostility. During this period, the government issued atheist propaganda, silenced church radios, meddled in religious affairs, and used public media to attack bishops, accusing them of "questioning the integrity of the Angolan revolutionary process".

In the late 1970s, a conflict emerged between the government and the Roman Catholic Church. The bishops of Angola's three archdioceses drafted a pastoral letter, read to all churches, claiming frequent violations of religious freedom. They objected to the government's systematic atheist propaganda and its silencing of the church's radio station in 1976. In response, President Neto issued a decree stating the separation of church and religious institutions.

In the late 1980s, the government's policy towards religion softened as political opposition failed to coalesce around religious leaders. However, the government remained suspicious of certain sects, such as the "Igreja de Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo no Mundo" (Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the World), an independent Christian sect founded in 1949 by Simão Toko. The government banned this sect, claiming its members had used religion to attack the state.

In 1991, when the MPLA abandoned Marxism-Leninism and adopted a multiparty democratic constitution, restrictions on religious liberty were largely abolished. However, the government, still dominated by the MPLA, continues to monitor religious communities through the Instituto Nacional das Religiões.

Today, the Angolan government suppresses the spread of non-mainstream churches and recognises only a limited number of religious sects, while many others are believed to exist illicitly. The government has also prevented civil society organisations from growing outside of its control and imposed stringent requirements and supervision on NGOs.

In 2015, the 7th Day Adventist sect A Luz do Mundo (Light of the World) experienced the worst religious suppression when it was targeted for 'complete destruction' and hundreds of its members were killed in the 'Mount Sumi' massacre. The government tried to cover up the massacre and prevent knowledge of it from spreading. Despite this tragic event, religion and churches continue to spread rapidly in Angola, with some even criticising the government.

The government's control of religion

Angola is a secular state and its constitution guarantees freedom of religion. However, the government maintains control over religious communities through the Instituto Nacional das Religiões (National Institute for Religious Matters). This institute, headed by a former Catholic priest, holds a register of all religious communities and maintains a permanent dialogue with the more important communities.

The Angolan government's attitude towards religion has been inconsistent. From 1977 to 1991, the ruling MPLA's commitment to Marxism-Leninism meant that it officially characterised religion as antiquated and irrelevant. The government also viewed religion as an instrument of colonialism due to the Roman Catholic Church's association with the Portuguese. Despite this, the government acknowledged the prevalence of religion in Angolan society and officially recognised the equality of all religions.

In the late 1970s, a conflict arose between the government and the Roman Catholic Church. The bishops of Angola's three archdioceses drafted a pastoral letter claiming frequent violations of religious freedom, objecting to the government's atheistic propaganda, and its silencing of the church's radio station. In response, President Neto issued a decree stating that there was a complete separation between church and state.

In the late 1980s, the government's policy towards religion softened slightly as it recognised that political opposition was not coalescing around religious leaders. However, the government remained suspicious of certain sects, such as the "Igreja de Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo no Mundo" (Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the World), an independent Christian sect founded in 1949. The government banned this sect in the late 1980s, claiming that its members had used religion to attack the state.

In 1991, the MPLA abandoned Marxism-Leninism and adopted a constitution that provided for multiparty democracy. Restrictions on religious liberty were largely abolished. However, the government continued to monitor religious communities and maintained control over their activities.

Today, the Angolan government still exerts control over religious organisations through formal and informal methods. It recognises a limited number of religious groups while many others operate illicitly. The government has set stringent requirements for the registration of new religious organisations, including a minimum number of signatures from adult Angolan citizens residing in a certain number of provinces. These requirements make it difficult for new religious groups to obtain legal recognition.

In recent years, the government has cracked down on religious groups that are perceived as a threat to national security or public order. For example, in 2019, the government launched "Operação Resgate", a police campaign against illicit traders and non-recognised churches, which resulted in the closure of hundreds of illegal churches. The government has also failed to recognise any Muslim groups or issue licenses for the construction of mosques, despite the presence of a significant Muslim minority in the country.

While the Angolan constitution guarantees freedom of religion, the government's actions suggest a desire to maintain control over religious communities and suppress the spread of certain religious groups.

The spread of Islam in Angola

Angola is a predominantly Christian country, with Islam being a minority religion. The spread of Islam in Angola began in the 1990s with immigration from West African countries and Somalia, joining a few established families of Lebanese descent. The country's Muslim population totals roughly 800,000, according to David Alberto Ja, head of the Islamic Community of Angola. However, the 2014 census reports a lower figure of 195,000 Muslims, representing 1% of the total population.

Alberto Ja states that the spread of Islam in Angola was influenced by the country's unique political history, marked by socialist ideology and years of civil war. The former regime was not open to Islam, and Muslims faced many challenges due to the slow pace of political and legal reforms. One of the most significant issues was the Law on Religion, which sets stringent requirements for religious recognition.

Since 2004, the law has mandated that a religion must have more than 100,000 members and a presence in over two-thirds of Angola's territory to be recognized by the state. Additionally, a religious group must submit a minimum of 60,000 signatures to the government to legalize its congregation. These requirements pose significant challenges for the Muslim community in Angola, as they struggle to meet the necessary thresholds.

Despite the obstacles, Alberto Ja expresses optimism about the future of Islam in Angola, noting that recent political reforms have led to improved relations between Muslims and the state and society. He emphasizes that Islam is now an undeniable reality in the country.

Currently, there are around 60 to 78 mosques in Angola, with most of them being unregistered. The government has shut down several mosques, citing their unlicensed status, and there have been reports of mosques being destroyed and copies of the Quran being burned. These actions have sparked controversy and condemnation from human rights activists, who view them as a violation of religious freedom.

The Angolan government has faced accusations of "banning" Islam, particularly in 2013, when most of the country's mosques were shut down. However, officials have denied these claims, stating that there is no war against Islam or any other religion in the country. They attribute the closure of mosques to their unlicensed status and assert that the issue is not specifically targeting Islam.

The Muslim community in Angola continues to face challenges, including the difficulty in obtaining legal recognition and the destruction of mosques. However, they remain hopeful for improved relations and the eventual recognition of Islam as an official religion in the country.

The Catholic Church's role in Angolan politics

Catholicism is the predominant religion in Angola, with around 40% of the population identifying as Catholic in the last census in 2014. The Catholic Church has a significant presence in the country, with 19 dioceses, including 5 archdioceses, and over 1200 priests and 2200 nuns serving 469 parishes and 44 Catholic hospitals as of 2020. The Catholic Church also operates radio stations, such as Ecclesia, which is broadcast in 16 of Angola's 18 provinces, and educational institutions, such as the Catholic University of Angola, which opened in 1998.

Historically, the Catholic Church in Angola was closely associated with the Portuguese colonial administration. Catholicism was introduced to Angola by Portuguese explorers and missionaries who arrived in the country as early as 1491. During the period of Portuguese rule, the Catholic Church was seen as an "instrument of civilization and national influence" by the colonial government, and Catholic missionaries were required to submit to Portuguese authority and laws.

Following Angola's independence from Portugal in 1975, the country was governed by the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which initially adhered to Marxist-Leninist ideology. During this period, the Catholic Church found itself in conflict with the MPLA government due to its close association with the former colonial power and its religious teachings, which were seen as contrary to the official Marxist-Leninist dogma. The MPLA government imposed restrictions on religious organizations, including the Catholic Church, and attempted to limit their influence in the country.

However, in the late 1980s, the MPLA government began to relax its policies towards religion, recognizing the importance of religious institutions in Angolan society. Since the abandonment of Marxism-Leninism by the MPLA in 1991 and the adoption of a multiparty democratic system, the Catholic Church has regained some influence in the country.

In recent years, Catholic bishops in Angola have emerged as vocal critics of the ruling MPLA, expressing concerns about poverty, unemployment, and political corruption. They have also called for free and fair elections, alleging that the MPLA has manipulated previous elections to retain power. The Catholic Church's radio station, Ecclesia, has expanded its broadcast area to 14 provinces, providing a platform for the Church to reach a wider audience and influence public discourse.

Overall, the Catholic Church in Angola plays a significant role in the country's religious, educational, and social life. Its relationship with the state has evolved over time, reflecting the country's political and ideological changes. While the Church has faced periods of repression and conflict with the government, it has also experienced periods of greater freedom and influence, particularly in recent years as Angola has transitioned to a more democratic system.

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