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Jul 20, 2014 News
By Zena Henry
As customary, the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) will be honouring another African nation come August 1 Emancipation Day celebrations this year. The Association, which focuses primarily on local education and consciousness amongst African descendants, will be highlighting the Republic of Angola, in the western region of Southern Africa.
Under the theme, “Reparations: Broken Chains Golden Dreams” ACDA is celebrating the strength of African womanhood and will be recognizing Angolan Queen Anna Nzinga for her contribution against the slave trade.
Angola is a country in Southern Africa, bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean.
Slavery in Angola existed since the late 15th century when Portugal established contacts with the peoples living in northwest of the country, and founded several trade posts on the coast. By the late 16th century, Portugal’s explorers founded the fortified settlement of Luanda, and later on minor trade posts and forts on the Kwanza River as well as on the Atlantic coast southwards until Benguela.
Portuguese is the official and predominant language in the black, mestico (mixed) and white populations. About 40 percent Angolans speak Bantu languages as their first languages, many more as second language, although younger urban generations and some sectors of the Angolan society are moving towards the exclusive use of Portuguese. The most spoken Bantu languages are Kimbundu, Umbundu, and Kikongo which have many Portuguese-derived words.
Although many people say they are Angolan, most of them will have their primary sense of identity and loyalty to a tribe. The various tribes and ethnic groups tend to cluster in certain areas of the country each with their own customs, language and history.
The major ethnic groups are the Ovimnumdu, the largest, who live predominantly in the central highlands; the Mbundu who cluster around Luanda province; and the Bakongo who live in the northwest provinces. Other large groups include the Nganguela and the Lunda-Chockwe.
A vital part of Angolan culture is respect for one’s ancestors and elders. It is viewed as very offensive to most Angolans if the proper respect for an elder is not shown, especially in more rural areas.
Whether slow and seductive or hard-hitting and controversial, Angolan music has moved and grown with the times. The contemporary music scene now bursts with exciting tunes and beats that leave no one standing still. Semba; Kizomba; Capoeira; Kabetula; etc. represents most popular rhythms in Angola. In the early 1990s a new type of music became the hit in Angola, the Kuduru — Angolan hip-hop with its own local rhythms and themes.
Food is often served in a communal bowl, especially during traditional meals and out of respect the eldest in the group is the first one to take food from the bowl.
On the religious front, as a country that was a Portuguese colony for over 500 years, the majority of the people are either Christian (Roman Catholic) or follow native beliefs. Most incorporate beliefs such as ancestor worship within a more formal religion and the constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Religious leaders played an important role in the democratic resolution of the common civil wars and are ardent campaigners for social justice and human rights.
The engine of Angola’s economy is the liquid gold – oil; producing nearly 900,000 barrels a day. Angola is the second largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa where crude oil accounts for 90 percent of total exports; more than 80 percent of government revenues and 42 percent of the country’s GDP. Hydro-Electricity is also very important, supported by large and powerful rivers that cross the country. Diamonds, Agriculture, timber and manufacturing also account for Angola’s rising economy.
ACDA believes that Angola is a most appropriate choice for Emancipation 2014 since it is an “important journey back to ancient times.” They have noted also the close ties the country has with neighbouring Brazil.
Angola’s traditional music is the semba. The Brazilian samba, is believed to have originated in Angola, since the African location was a major source of slaves to Brazil. Brazil, out of the several European colonies in the Americas, was the largest single importer of slaves during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Two-thirds of those slaves in Brazil originated from the Angola/Kongo region.
The word Angola derives from the word ngola, a title for kings used in the state of Ndongo during the early centuries. Its capitol is Luanda which is known as the “Paris of Africa” apparently due to the city’s sophisticated culture and atmosphere. One of Africa’s most beautiful natural wonders, the Ruacana Falls, is located in Angola which is also the home for the giant sable antelope. It can’t be found anywhere else and was thought to be extinct until it was re-discovered a few years ago.
The African has vast mineral and petroleum reserves, and its economy has on average grown at a double-digit pace since the 1990s, due to the increasing of oil production. Angola has one of the fastest growing economies. Attempting to take the country’s currency, kwanza, outside of the nation is said to be illegal.
As a formality, Angolans normally shake hands when greeting each other — but when introduced to an older person or to someone with a higher position, Angolans typically bow their heads.
Nevertheless, like many other African nations civil war had been a damper on the nation’s growth. Angola’s civil divide lasted from independence in 1975 to 2002. Post Independence and civil war caused the death of millions of persons.
Currently, nearly 70 percent of the country’s population is under the age of 24. Leila Lopes, Miss Universe 2011hails from Angola and is the fourth African to take the title.
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