The Rich Cultural Heritage Of Angola

Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country in southwestern Africa on the Atlantic coast. It is the seventh-largest country in Africa and the second-largest Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) country in terms of total area and population. Angola has a rich history, having been inhabited since the Paleolithic Age and was formed as a nation-state from the Kingdom of Kongo, which became powerful and wealthy through its involvement in the Atlantic slave trade with the Portuguese Empire.

Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975, and its national flag was inspired by the flag of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), a political party that promoted the movement for Angola's independence. The country is diverse, with various ethnic groups, a variety of music and dances, and a rich natural landscape. Angola's economy is largely dependent on oil, and it is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The flag of Angola

The national flag of Angola was adopted on November 11, 1975, when the country gained independence. It consists of two horizontal bands of red and black with a central emblem. The red band is at the top, and the black band is at the bottom. The emblem in the centre features a yellow half-gear wheel crossed by a machete and crowned with a star.

The flag's colours and symbols have various meanings. The red half of the flag signifies the bloodshed during Angola's colonial period, independence struggle, and defence of the country. The black half symbolises Africa. In the central emblem, the gear represents industrial workers and production, the machete represents the peasantry, agricultural production, and the armed struggle, and the star represents international solidarity and progress. The yellow colour of the emblem symbolises the country's wealth.

The flag was designed by Henrique Onambwé and has not been changed since its adoption. However, there have been proposals to adopt a new flag that removes the Communist imagery. One such proposal included a sun design in the middle, reminiscent of cave paintings found in the Tchitundo-Hulu cave near Virei. Nonetheless, the original flag has remained in use, with the ruling party suppressing proposals for a change.

The anthem of Angola

The national anthem of Angola is called "Angola Avante", which translates to "Forward Angola" in English. The music was composed by Ruy Mingas, and the lyrics were written by Manuel Rui Alves Monteiro. The song was adopted as the national anthem in November 1975 when the country gained its independence from Portugal.

The anthem's lyrics refer to several key events in the history of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which was the only party in Angola until 1992 and has been in power since independence. The lyrics allude to how the country and its people will progress in the future.

> Ó Pátria, nunca mais esqueceremos

> Os heróis do quatro de Fevereiro.

> Ó Pátria, nós saudamos os teus filhos

> Tombados pela nossa Independência.

> Honramos o passado e a nossa História,

> Construindo no Trabalho o Homem novo,

This verse can be translated to English as:

> O Fatherland, we shall never forget

> The heroes of the Fourth of February.

> O Fatherland, we salute your children

> Who died for our Independence.

> We honour the past and our History,

> As by our work we build the New Man.

There have been efforts to modify the national anthem, along with other national symbols, due to the references to the MPLA. However, as of 2014, the anthem remains unchanged.

The emblem of Angola

The machete and hoe are enclosed within a circle, the right half of which is formed by a cog-wheel, representing industrial workers. The left half is a half-wreath of maize, coffea and cotton leaves, representing agriculture. At the bottom is an open book, symbolising education, and a banner that reads "República de Angola" in Portuguese, or "Republic of Angola" in English.

The people of Angola

Angola is a multicultural and multiethnic country with a population of around 37.2 million people. The country's population is overwhelmingly Christian, with about two-fifths of the population being Roman Catholic and about two-fifths Protestant. The remaining one-tenth adheres to traditional beliefs or other religions.

The official language of Angola is Portuguese, which is spoken by 71.1% of the population. However, there are many other indigenous languages spoken throughout the country, including Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo.

Angola has a young population, with almost half of its citizens under the age of 15 and about one-quarter between the ages of 15 and 29. The country has a low standard of living, with most Angolans living below the poverty line. Life expectancy is among the lowest in the world, while infant mortality is among the highest.

The economy of Angola

Angola's economy is heavily influenced by the effects of four decades of conflict in the last part of the 20th century, namely the war for independence from Portugal (1961-1975) and the subsequent civil war (1975-2002). Since the civil war ended in 2002, Angola's government has prioritised the repair and improvement of infrastructure and the strengthening of political and social institutions.

Angola's economy is overwhelmingly driven by its oil sector. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 50% of GDP, more than 70% of government revenue, and more than 90% of the country's exports. Angola is a member of OPEC and has vast mineral and petroleum reserves. It is the sixth-largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa and the third-largest trading partner of the United States in the region.

Angola's economy has been one of the fastest-growing in the world, with an average GDP growth of 11.1% between 2001 and 2010. However, the country still faces high levels of poverty and inequality, with most of the nation's wealth concentrated in a disproportionately small part of the population. Angola's economy is also vulnerable to external shocks, and the end of the oil boom in 2015 led to a period of economic contraction.

Angola has taken steps to diversify its economy away from oil, with agriculture being the sector with the highest potential to drive this diversification. However, the country still imports half of its food and will need to build climate resilience as it is expected to be increasingly affected by extreme climatic events.

Other key sectors of Angola's economy include diamonds, which represent 5% of exports, and subsistence agriculture, which provides the main livelihood for most of the population.

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