Happy Independence Day Angola – Every year on 11 November, the Republic of Angola celebrates its independence day as to commemorate the date in 1975 when Angola gained its complete independence from Portugal.
Independence Day in Angola is celebrated annually on November 11 in Angola. This day is a special day in the history of Angola, as it takes you back to the time when Angola finally got freedom from Portugal.
The Angolia Independence Day is not just about celebrations, but it’s about pride, remembrance, and strength for the Angolan nation. On this day, the nation honors all those who sacrificed their lives during the struggle against Portugal rule and colonialism and remember all those who died in the freedom war and subsequent clashes.
Angola Independence Day : How Many Years of Independence & Which Anniversary?
The Angola Independence Day will be celebrated on Thursday, 11 November . This independence event will mark Angola’s 46 years of Independence – which means this year, Angolans will mark their country’s 46th Independence Anniversary.
SECTION # 1
Angola’s Independence History
Situated on the Atlantic coast in the southern part of Africa, the Republic of Angola is the second-biggest oil producer in Africa. It has a population of around 28.4 million and borders Zambia toward the east, Namibia toward the south and the Republic of Congo to the north. Its capital city is Luanda and the official currency is the kwanza. Portuguese is its official language, however, Bantu and other African dialects are also spoken. Angola picked up independence from Portugal in 1975.
| Angola History Timeline | |
| 1300s |
Kongo Kindom found in the north
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| 1483 |
First Portuguese land in Angola
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| 1575 |
Portuguese found Luanda, i.e Angola’s capital
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| 1700 to 1800 |
Angola becomes the largest Portuguese trading arena for slaves, with a million plus slaves shipped to Brazil!
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| 1836 |
Slave trade gets abolished by the Portuguese government
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| 1885 to 1930 |
Portugal gains complete colonial control over Angola including administration, local and foreign affairs
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| 1951 |
Angola’s status changes from colony to overseas province
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| 1956 to 1960 |
Three independence movement parties emerged
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| 1961 |
Forced labor gets abolished after riots on coffee plantations leave more than 50,000 dead. The Angolan War of Independence begins
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| 1974 to 1975 |
Portugal Colonial Empire collapses
|
1). Early Settlements in Angola
Angola gets its name from the Bantu kingdom of Ndongo, whose name for its king is Angola.
The first to inhabit the present day Angola were the Bushmen, great hunters, like dwarfs in stature and with light brown skin. Toward the start of the 6th century AD, more advanced people with dark skin, already possessing the metal-working technology, started one of the greatest migrations in history. They were the Bantu, and they originated from the north, most likely from someplace close to the present day Republic of Cameroon. When they landed what is presently Angola they experienced the Bushmen and different groups significantly less progressed than themselves, who they effectively overwhelmed with their prevalent information and superior knowledge of metal-working, agriculture, and farming.
The establishment of the Bantu took numerous hundreds of years and offered to ascend to different groupings who took on various ethnic attributes, some of which hold on right up ’til today. The first major political entity in the territory, referred to history as the Kingdom of Congo, showed up in the 13th century and extended from Gabon in the north to the river Kwanza in the south, and from the Atlantic in the west to the waterway Cuango in the east…
Life in Angola Before Independence
At that time, agriculture was the main source of their wealth. Power was in the hands of the Mani, aristocrats who occupied key positions in the kingdom and who addressed just to the powerful Ruler of the Kongo. Mbanza was the name given to a regional unit administered and by a Mani; Mbanza Congo, the capital, had a populace of more than 50,000 in the 16th century.
The Kingdom of Congo was partitioned into six provinces and incorporated some dependent kingdoms, for example, Ndongo toward the south. Trade was the principal activity, in light of profoundly profitable agriculture and increasing exploitation of mineral wealth.
2). The Arrival of Portuguese in Angola: The Colonization Period
The Portuguese initially arrived in what is today northern Angola in 1482, encountering the Kingdom of the Kongo extending from Gabon in the north to the Kwanza River in the south. The Portuguese bit by bit took control of the coast area by a progression of settlements and wars all through the 16th century, and their enthusiasm for Angola immediately turned to the slave trade.
When Did Portuguese Colonized Angola?
The first Portuguese colony in Angola was founded in 1575.
Numerous historians concur that by the 19th century, Angola was the biggest source of slaves for the Americas. Portugal in the long run anchored administrative power over the interior at the start of the 20th century.
How Did Portuguese Colonized Angola & Took Complete Administrative Power?
At the time of the landing of the Portuguese, Ngola Kiluange was in power, and by keeping up an approach of partnerships with neighboring states, figured out how to hold out against the foreigners for quite a few years. Eventually, he was beheaded in Luanda.
Some years later, the Ndongo rose to power again when Jinga Mbandi, known as Queen Jinga, took control. A wily government official, she held the Portuguese under control with carefully-arranged agreements. In the wake of undertaking a different journey, she succeeded in 1635 in forming a grand alliance with the states of Matamba and Ndongo, Kassanje, Kongo, Dembos and Kissam as. As the leader of this formidable alliance, she forced the Portuguese to withdraw.
Meantime, Portugal had been annexed by Spain, and their overseas regions had taken second place. The Dutch exploited this circumstance and occupied Luanda in 1641. Jinga went into a union with the Dutch, along these lines strengthening her alliance and confining the Portuguese to Massangano, which they invigorated firmly, sallying forward now and again to capture slaves in the Kuata! Kuata! Wars. Slaves from Angola were important to the development of the province of Brazil, however, the movement had been hindered by these occasions. In 1648 a large force from Brazil under the order of Salvador Correia de Sá retook Luanda, prompting the arrival of the Portuguese in large numbers.
Jinga’s alliance started to break apart; the nonattendance of their Dutch allies with their guns, and the strong position of Correia de Sá delivered a dangerous blow to the morale of the local forces. Queen Jinga passed away in 1663; after two years, the King of the Kongo submitted every one of his powers to an endeavor to catch the island of Luanda, occupied by Correia de Sá, however, they were crushed and lost their independence. The Kingdom of Ndongo in like manner submitted to the Portuguese Crown in 1671.
Slavery In Angola: Where Did The Portuguese Get Their Slaves?
Portugal’s interest for Angola immediately turned to slavery. The slaving framework started early in the 16th century with the purchase from African chiefs of people to work at sugar estates in São Tomé, Principé, and Brazil. Numerous researchers concur that by the 19tg century, Angola was the biggest source of slaves for Brazil as well as for the Americas, including the United States.
Before the finish of the 19th century, a huge forced labor system had replaced formal slavery and would proceed until prohibited in 1961. It was this forced labor that gave the premise to the advancement of an estate economy and, by the mid-20th century, a mining sector.
Forced labor joined with British financing to develop three railways from the coast to the interiors, the most essential of which was the cross-country Benguela railroad that connected the port of Lobito with the copper zones of the Belgian Congo and what is presently Zambia, through which it interfaces with Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
How Did Portugal Treat Angola?
Portugal extracted the greatest number of natural resources out of Angola as they could and was the most notorious of all slave-trading European countries. Their rule over Angola was harsh and severe, and they clutched their colonies longer than most other frontier powers did after World War II.
Colonial economic development did not convert into social improvement for local Angolans. The Portuguese administration supported white immigration, particularly after 1950, which intensified racial enmities. As decolonization advanced somewhere else in Africa, Portugal, under the Salazar and Caetano tyrannies, rejected independence and regarded its African colonies as overseas provinces.
3). Angola’s Road To Independence: How Did Angola Gain Its Independence From Portuguese?
As post-World War II decolonization advanced elsewhere in Africa, Portugal kept on regarding its African colonies as overseas provinces. Subsequently, three Angolan independence movements rose. The three main freedom movements which emerged in Angola were:
- The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (Movimento Popular da Libertação de Angola, MPLA) driven by Agostinho Neto, with a base among Kimbundu and the mixed intellectual elite of Luanda, and connections to socialist parties in Portugal and the East Bloc.
- The National Front for the Liberation of Angola (Frente Nacional para a Libertação de Angola, FNLA), driven by Holden Roberto with an ethnic base in the Bakongo district of the north and connections to the Unified States and the Mobutu administration in Kinshasa.
- The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (União Nacional para an Indepêndencia Total de Angola, UNITA), driven by Jonas Malheiro Savimbi with an ethnic and local base in the Ovimbundu, and connections to the People’s Republic of China and politically-sanctioned racial segregation South Africa.
From the early 1960s, these three movements battled against the Portuguese. A 1974 military overthrow in Portugal set up a military government that agreed, in the Alvor Accords, to hand power to an alliance of the three movements. Ideological conflicts prompted outfitted clash between these three movements, with the Eastern Bloc-supported Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) eventually taking power when the Portuguese deserted the capital city Luanda in 1975. Angola stayed lined up with the Soviet Association and Cuba for the duration of the Cool War.
When Did Angola Become Independent From Portugal?
Holding control of Luanda, the coastal strip, and progressively lucrative oil fields in Cabinda, the MPLA pronounced Angola’s Independence on November 11, 1975, the day the Portuguese left the capital.
UNITA and the FNLA formed an adversary coalition government based in the interior city of Huambo. Agostinho Neto turned into the first president of the MPLA government that was recognized by the United Nations in 1976.
What Year Did Angola Gain Independence?
The Angolan War of Independence started in 1961, but it was the uprising of 1974 that at last led to complete independence being won and recognized by November 11, 1975.
Angola gained complete Independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975!
SECTION # 2
Angola Independence Day: Celebrations & Activities
Independence Day in Angola is celebrated annually on November 11. This special event commemorates the date in 1975 when Angola gained its independence from Portugal and officially came to be known as the Republic of Angola.
Autonomy was accomplished after the three independence movement parties MPLA, UNITA, and FNLA consented to the Alvor Agreement, which ended the war of independence. The Portuguese government finally agreed to recognize the freedom of its settlements, including Angola.
Here’s How Independence Day is Celebrated in Angola:
Angola’s Independence Day is a public holiday, which is observed each year. The day praises the nation’s fallen heroes, its heroic sons, and daughters who battled for the autonomy of their nation from Portuguese frontier rule.
A large number of freedom warriors were executed amid the Angolan War of Independence. Many were executed, imprisoned, and thousands were kept in horrifying conditions in the battle against colonialism.
On the occasion of Independence Day, the Angolan nation honors all those who sacrificed their lives amid the battle against Portuguese colonialism and recall each one of the brave fighters who died in subsequent revolutions. May harmony prevail in Angola!
The Angolans celebrate this important day honoring their ancestors that struggled for a ‘separate and independent’homeland for their next generation.
The Angola Independence Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm, zeal, and fervor. The day starts with special prayers for peace and progress of Angola, followed by a military parade. Thousands of Angolans and foreign visitors gather to participate in this annual Independence Day parade – wearing the colors of their flag and showing their extreme love and regard for their nation.
Numerous Angolans show their patriotism by decorating their streets and towns with pennants, while some organize small independence day marches on the roads, carrying the nation’s flag and appear to be in high spirits.
There are special Independence Day workshops and seminars orchestrated by key authorities, where past incidents are recalled and tribute is paid to each one of the individuals who gave their lives to see Angola to be an independent nation.
Next are music and dance activities. People wear traditional Angolan dress and take off to some top recreation spots where they take part in cultural dances and enjoy shows by traditional artists. These lovely activities are followed by a scrumptious feast including tasty Angolan dishes along with local specialties.
The Independence Day in Angola includes a military parade; lovely festivities including music food, and game activities, and reach a climax in a spectacular display of colorful firework shows at night!
Happy Angola Independence Day: Quotes & Wishes Greetings
- Happy Independence to my beautiful homeland Angola
- Today in history… On Tuesday, 11 November 1975, Angola became independent after 14 years of armed resistance against Portuguese colonial rule. Angola’s Independence paved the way for other liberation movements in Southern Africa. Happy Independence Day!
- 46 years ago on 11 November 1975 Angola gained its independence from Portugal. Happy Independence Day to the Republic of Angola.
- Happy Independence Day to all Angolans out there. The holiday was established to celebrate the anniversary of Angola’s independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975.
- On this day in 1975, Angola declared its independence! A long-lasting fight driven by a #Youth that believed in a greater and more dignified ‘Tomorrow’.
- Morning shout out to a country i fell in love with through its culture: Bom Dia Angola, Happy Independence Day!
- Happy 46th independence anniversary to Angola! Salute to the Angolan people, led by MPLA, who overcame 400yrs of brutal Portuguese colonialism
SECTION # 3
The National Flag of Angola
The National Flag of Angola was adopted when Angola gained independence from Portugal on November 11, 1975.
*Do you know? The flag design is inspired from the flag of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which fought for Angola’s freedom from Portuguese colonial rule and later emerged as the ruling party of Angola. MPLA flag is very similar to the flag of Angola except it features a star in place of central emblem.
Flag of Angola: Colors & Symbols
The National Flag of the Republic of Angola features two horizontal bands of Red and Black with an emblem resting at the center. The emblem features a yellow half gear wheel crossed by a machete and crowned with a five-pointed star (resembling the hammer and sickle used on the Soviet flag).
What Do The Symbols on The Angola Flag Mean?
The Angolan Flag is split horizontally into an upper red half and a lower black half. In the center, there’s a Machete and Gear Emblem in gold. Here’s what the flag of Angola represents.
- Red Horizontal Band: signifies bloodshed during the Angolan War of Independence (1961-1974)
- Black Horizontal Band: represents Africa
- Gear in golden: represents industrial workers
- Machete in golden: represents peasantry
- 5 Pointed-star in golden: symbolizes socialism
SECTION # 4
Angola’s Independence: Facts & FAQs
Angola’s road to autonomy was never so easy. The nation experienced so many hardships before the dream of Freedom transformed into reality. Here are answers to your most frequently asked questions regarding Angola’s Colonization, its Independence, and its current situation.
How Did Angola Gain Its Independence?
Angola celebrates its national day every year on November 11. The day marks the anniversary of Angola’s self-rule which was achieved in 1975 from Portugal.
The armed battle (Angolan War of Freedom/Portuguese Colonial War) for the nation’s autonomy begun in 1961. The battle was fought by three movements:
- the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA)
- National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)
- the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA)
Freedom was achieved after the three parties MPLA, UNITA, and FNLA consented to the Alvor Arrangement, which ended the war of independence. The Portuguese government consented to recognize the freedom of its colonies, including Angola.
A huge number of freedom fighters were murdered during the liberation war. Many were executed, imprisoned, tormented or mangled and thousands were confined in horrifying conditions in the battle against colonialism.
When Did Portugal Take Over Angola?
The Portuguese arrived in what is today northern Angola in 1482, encountering the Kingdom of the Congo extending from current Gabon in the north to the Kwanza Waterway in the south.
The modern history of Angola starts with the landing arrival Portuguese explorers in the late 1400’s, en route to discover a way around Africa to India. Portugal founded Luanda in 1575, and this started 400 years of colonial rule by Portugal!
Portugal extracted the greatest number of natural resources out of Angola as they could and was the most famous of all slave-trading European countries. Their rule over Angola was cruel, and they clutched their colonies longer than most other colonial powers did after World War II.
The war for freedom in Angola started in 1961, yet it was the uprising of 1974 that at last prompted independence being won and perceived by 11 November 1975.
Present Day Angola: Is Angola A Developing Country?
Present-Day Angola is booming!
The oil and jewel rich nation is right now modifying at full swing in the wake of experiencing Angolan Civil War for a long time since independence from Portugal in 1975. Presently the nation of 19 million is living peacefully and going through a dramatic modern transformation.
The capital, Luanda is situated on the shoreline of the Atlantic Sea and has a population of more than 5 million inhabitants. The city’s roads are being paved and broadened, lots of new multi-national businesses are opening up and there is a considerable measure of development going on all around. Foreigners are rushing to the nation.
What Type of Economy Does Angola Have Now?
Modern Angola’s economy is overwhelmingly driven by its oil sector. Oil generation and its supporting exercises contribute about 50% of the Gross domestic product, over 70% of government income, and over 90% of the nation’s exports; Angola is an OPEC member and subject to its heading with respect to oil production levels. Jewels & Diamonds contribute an extra 5% to exports.
Is Angola Developed or Developing?
According to the IMF’s recent health check of the Angolan economy, its discovered that the country, under a new government, has made progress in setting a reform plan outfitted towards macroeconomic stability and development that benefits every one of its people.
Angola’s economic development prospects are on the rise as higher oil costs and sounder approaches under President Joao Lourenco bring greater stability to Africa’s second-largest crude exporter.
Some Interesting Facts about the Republic of Angola
- What is Angola Famous For? Angola is famous for its rich natural oil reserves. The country is best known for its oil, which has given it the nickname, “the Kuwait of Africa”!
- How wealthy is Angola? The Economy of Angola is one of the fastest developing in the world, with an annual average GDP growth of 11.1 percent from 2001 to 2010.
- GDP of Angola: 194 billion USD (2017-18 est.)
- What do they eat in Angola? Angolan cuisines mostly comprise of chicken dishes, served with vinegar, onion, garlic, and tomato. Caldeirada de cabrito goat meat stew served with rice is a traditional dish for Angolan Independence Day – November 11.
- What is the culture of Angola? The Angolan culture is mostly native Bantu.
- Is Angola Democratic? Angola became a democratic country after the new constitution adopted in 1992.
- What is Angola’s climate? Tropical climate. The average temperature is 20° C
- What is the major religion of Angola? A large portion of Angola’s population is Christian
- Is Angola a third world country? Angola is among those few African nations that have made the transition from Third World status to First World status.
- What language does Angola have? Portuguese is Angola’s official language.
- Who colonized Angola? Angola was colonized by Portuguese. The first Portuguese colony of Angola was founded in 1575 when Paulo Dias de Novais landed with a hundred families of colonists and around 400 soldiers!
- How did Angola gain Independence? Autonomy was accomplished after the three independence movement parties MPLA, UNITA, and FNLA, threw Portuguese out of Angola.
- What are the natural resources of Angola? Petroleum, Iron ore, diamonds, bauxite, phosphates, and uranium.
- What is the most popular sport in Angola? Football is the most popular spot in Angola. Their national team qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. There are many professional Angolan footballers who play internationally. The second most famous sport in Angola is basketball.
- Angola’s financial development rate is being driven by its oil segment. Oil production and its supporting exercises contribute around 50 percent of the country’s GDP and around 92 percent of exports.