The Roots Of Angola: Uncovering The Original Language

Angola is a multilingual and multicultural country in Southern Africa with one official language and several national languages. Portuguese, introduced during the colonial era, is the country's sole official language. It is spoken by 71% of the population, and is the mother tongue of 39%. However, there are 46 other languages spoken in Angola, most of which are Bantu languages. Umbundu, Kimbundu and Kikongo are the most widely spoken indigenous languages.

Portuguese is the official language of Angola

The variant of Portuguese spoken in Angola is known as Angolan Portuguese, which is phonetically similar to the Mozambican variant and, in some aspects, resembles a pidgin. Angolan Portuguese is also quite similar to Brazilian Portuguese, but the pronunciation is more European. The adoption of Portuguese as the lingua franca among various ethnic groups in Angola occurred in the mid-twentieth century. This was further accelerated after the Angolan Civil War, when many people moved to the cities, learned Portuguese, and subsequently returned to the countryside, contributing to its spread as a first language in rural areas.

While Portuguese is the official language, the government has recognised all native languages as national languages. Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo are the most widely spoken indigenous languages, with Umbundu being the most prevalent Bantu language, spoken natively by about 23% of the population. Kimbundu is spoken in the Luanda Province and adjacent areas, while Kikongo is spoken in the northwest, including the exclave of Cabinda. Other popular native languages include Fiote, Chokwe, and Kwanyama (Ovambo).

The multilingual nature of Angola is further reflected in the presence of other European, Asian, and African languages. French is spoken in the province of Cabinda, which borders two French-speaking countries, while English is the most popular language taught in Angolan schools. Additionally, a small section of the population of Angolan-Lebanese descent speaks Arabic and/or French. The country also has a growing sinophone community of about 300,000 individuals.

Angola has 46 other languages, most of which are Bantu

Angola is a multilingual and multicultural country with 46 languages spoken in addition to its sole official language, Portuguese. Most of these are Bantu languages, with Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo being the most popular indigenous languages. Umbundu is the most widely spoken Bantu language, with about 5.9 million native speakers, mainly in the centre and south of the country. It is also known as South Mbundu and Ovimbundu in the Bantu family.

Kimbundu is the second most widely spoken Bantu language, with around 3 million speakers in the northwest of Angola. The speakers of Kimbundu are known as Mbundu. Some words from Kimbundu have made their way into European and Brazilian Portuguese, such as "tanga" (loin cloth, string) and "banjo" (banjo). Luanda, the capital of Angola, is another name for Kimbundu.

Kikongo, also known as Fiote and Kongo, is the third most widely spoken indigenous language in Angola, with about 2.9% of the population or 7 million speakers, mainly in the northwest, including the exclave of Cabinda. It is also spoken in some surrounding countries and in Creolized forms in several Caribbean countries. It is sometimes referred to as Kituba, which is a Creole version influenced by both Romance and African languages. Kikongo was the first Bantu language written in Latin characters and the first to have a dictionary.

In addition to these major indigenous languages, there are other Bantu languages spoken in Angola, such as Chokwe, Kwanyama (also known as Oshiwambo or Ovambo), and Mbunda. Chokwe is spoken by around half a million people in the east of the country and is one of the national languages. Kwanyama is spoken by around 420,000 people, both the Kwanyama and Ovambo people, and together with Ndonga, another Ovambo language, is known as Oshiwambo.

While Portuguese is the official language, introduced during the colonial era, and the most widely spoken language in Angola, the country is committed to preserving and promoting its indigenous languages. All native languages are recognised as national languages, and the government has chosen six, including the above-mentioned ones, to be developed as literary languages. Angolan radio transmits in fourteen of the "main" national languages, and some are used in schools, although there is a reported shortage of teachers.

Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo are the most popular indigenous languages

Angola has 46 indigenous languages, mostly Bantu languages. Portuguese is the only official language of Angola, and it is the mother tongue of 39% of the population. The number of native Portuguese speakers is large and growing, with 71% of the population speaking it at home. This is due to historical, cultural, social, and political reasons that date back to the colonial era.

Despite Portuguese being the official language, Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo are the most popular indigenous languages. Umbundu, also called South Mbundu, is spoken by about 23% of the population, making it the most widely spoken Bantu language in Angola. It is mainly spoken in the center and south of the country, as well as in Luanda. Kimbundu, also known as Mbundu or North Mbundu, is the second most widely spoken Bantu language in Angola. It is spoken in the Luanda, Bengo, Malanje, and Cuanza Norte provinces by about 7.85% of the population. Kikongo, or Kongo, is spoken by 8.8% of the population in the northwest of the country, including the exclave of Cabinda.

All native languages of Angola are considered national languages. The government has stated that it will choose six languages to develop as literary languages, and Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo are among those most often included. Angolan radio transmits in fourteen of the "main" national languages, including Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo. However, there is a shortage of teachers for these languages in schools.

Angola is a multilingual and multicultural country

The most widely spoken indigenous languages in Angola are Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo. Umbundu is the most widely spoken Bantu language, with about 5.9 million native speakers, amounting to about 23% of the population. It is mainly spoken in the center and south of the country, as well as in Luanda. Kimbundu is spoken in Luanda Province and adjacent provinces, and Kikongo is spoken in the northwest, including the exclave of Cabinda, by about 8.24% of Angolans.

In addition to these, there are several other Bantu languages that are widely spoken in Angola. These include Chokwe, a lingua franca in the east of the country, spoken by about half a million people; Kwanyama, or Oshikwanyama, spoken by about 420,000 people; and Ngangela, spoken by several thousand people.

The diversity of languages in Angola reflects the country's rich cultural and ethnic diversity, with various ethnic groups speaking their own indigenous languages. Angola's multilingualism also reflects its colonial history, with Portuguese introduced during the Portuguese colonial era.

The Angolan government plans to make English a compulsory subject in schools

Angola is a Southern African nation with a single official language, Portuguese, and several national languages. Portuguese was introduced during the colonial era and is widely spoken across the country. It is the mother tongue of 39% of the population, and many more speak it as a second language. A 2014 census found that about 71% of Angola's nearly 25.8 million inhabitants speak Portuguese at home. The variant of the Portuguese language used in Angola is known as Angolan Portuguese, which is phonetically similar to the Mozambican variant.

Portuguese is the official language of Angola, but 46 other languages are spoken in the country, mostly Bantu languages. All native languages of Angola are considered national languages, and the Angolan radio transmits in 14 of these. The most widely spoken indigenous languages are Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo. Umbundu is the most widely spoken Bantu language, with about 5.9 million people or 23% of the population speaking it natively. Kimbundu is spoken in Luanda Province and adjacent provinces, while Kikongo is spoken in the northwest, including the exclave of Cabinda, by about 8.24% of Angolans.

The Angolan government has planned to make English a compulsory subject in schools in the future. English is currently the most popular foreign language taught in Angolan schools. French is also widely spoken in Cabinda, an Angolan province bordered by the two French-speaking nations of the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 90% of the literate population in this province speak French, while only 10% speak Portuguese.

Education in Angola has faced many challenges, including a lack of infrastructure, qualified teachers, and resources due to the country's civil war. The quality of teaching is often inadequate, and teachers are underpaid and overworked. The Angolan government has been working to improve the education system, including by implementing a new policy based on the Cuban system of education and bringing Cuban teachers to the country. The government aims to reduce illiteracy to a minimum by 2014.

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