Located in the southwestern region of the continent of Africa, Angola is a coastal country, bordered by the South Atlantic Ocean. It is officially known as The Republic of Angola and is located in between Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It has a rich cultural heritage that has been shaped by a series of historical influences along with a long-established ethnic diversity.
Like many other African countries, Angola was historically a tribal nation, initially inhabited by Khoisan-speaking hunter-gatherer groups. Then around the first millennium AD came the indigenous Bantu-speaking people, who brought with them sophisticated agricultural practices and iron-working skills. This led to the development of several kingdoms, such as the Kingdom of Kongo, which was known for its form of government, developed social and political structure, and rich cultural traditions commonly expressed through art, music, and spirituality. The Kingdom of Kongo thrived and became especially powerful through trade with European merchants during the late 15th century.
The arrival of the Portuguese in 1575 marked the decline of the kingdoms and the beginning of a long colonial rule that lasted 400 years, till 1975, when Angola got its independence. The Portuguese, like many other European explorers, brought their slave trade practice, which forcibly displaced millions of Angolans from their homes. It led to the loss of many lives and local cultural practices and significantly disrupted the social structure that was native to the country. This forced migration and the influx of the Portuguese resulted in a fusion of Angolan customs and Portuguese culture over time, and this influence is apparent even to this day in the nation’s language, religion, and cuisine.
The long struggle for Independence from the Portuguese did mark a crucial turning point in the cultural identity of the Angolan people, fostering a sense of nationalism and pride in their traditional indigenous customs. When asked, many citizens will say they are Angolan, but several align their loyalty and sense of cultural identity with their ancestral tribe.
Family Life
Angola is the seventh largest country in Africa. Its long history, rich culture, diverse geographical landscapes and natural beauty position the country with potential, but the country has been struggling with a 27-year civil war, beginning in 1975, immediately after independence, all the way to 2002. The war was an internal power struggle between two guerrilla groups, one aligned with communist principles and another against it. This long period of war and unrest has created significant challenges with economic instability and poverty, which translates into gender roles and daily family life.
Participants in the war were mostly male. Many young men died in the war, and as a result, a growing number of households are left to be sustained by women. Another trend that has emerged, post wartime, is the migration of men into cities, looking for work, while women remained in the rural areas, taking up jobs in agriculture and food trade. This unfortunately means that women are more susceptible to land mines, which are more prevalent in the rural regions. Approximately, 80 percent of land mine victims are women and children.
Despite the government’s official advocacy for gender equality, there is a very significant divide between the two genders. For instance, the literacy rate for men is 56 percent, while it was only 28 percent for women at the turn of the century. Very few girls are given the opportunity to go to school and get an education. A very small percentage of women go into professional jobs, and if they do, they are paid less than their male counterparts. Female presence in the top government and political positions is almost non-existent, making it more difficult and less of a focal point to change policies.
Domestic life is mostly male dominated. Marriages are not as formal or celebrated in Angola due to financial limitations. Couples do try and find a home of their own or live with the husband’s family, but it is also very common for couples to live apart and take whatever jobs they can find because the country’s economic situation is so desperate that families are often broken apart, looking for a living. Given the number of men that died in the war, polygamy is still a common practice and the age gap between a husband and wife is growing, especially in rural areas where young girls are married off to older men.
Language
As a result of the long colonial rule, Portuguese is the official and dominant language, commonly used in government, education, and media. However, the government and cultural organizations do recognize the importance of preserving the country’s heritage and are promoting the role of indigenous languages by including six Bantu languages, Kimbundu, Umbundu, Kikongo, Chokwe, Kwanyama, and Ngangela, as part of the national languages. All these languages now have many Portuguese derived words, showcasing the impact and influence of the Portuguese colonial rule, but they are a strong part of the Angolan cultural identity and are spoken by at least 40% of Angolans.
Dress
In urban areas, western clothing is more common, while rural areas remain more traditional, where women wear the pano, which is a long, colorful wraparound skirt that is made from batik fabric. The pano can be draped in different ways and is usually accessorized with a head wrap and a detailed beaded necklace. Please see image below:
There are also a few groups of people, like the Mukubao, in the province of Kuando Kubango in southern Angola, who actually wear no clothing.
Cuisine
The war has made agriculture nearly impossible in many areas, and if food is grown in a particular area, transporting it is a problem, as it is dangerous to travel by road and railway. This has led to a shortage of food supply and made food extremely expensive, leaving most to live on the breadline. Salt is a particularly expensive commodity, making it a highly prized product. Over half the population is unemployed, and approximately 70 percent live below the poverty line, making food insecurity and hunger a very big problem.
Angolans have had to rely solely on what is available to them in their natural habitat due to the lack of food transportation. Costal regions rely mostly on what they can catch from the sea. Herders rely mostly on dairy and farmers, although there are far fewer of them than in the past, rely on locally grown crops like maize and cassava.
The national dish of Angola is either chicken Muamba, a dish made with red palm oil, tomatoes and spices or Funge, which is made with cassava flour and water.
For special occasions and/or celebrations, goat is the meat of delicacy, served with a bean sauce, although traditional ceremonies and celebrations have basically disappeared. Bottled beer at a celebration is a luxury, but very few people can afford it. Instead, local alcohol like maize beer and palm wine is generally what is consumed, on the rare occasions that a party is held.
Holidays
Religion plays a significant role in observances of holidays and festivals. Another influence of the colonial period is that most Angolans have converted to Christianity and identify as Roman Catholic or Protestant. However, traditional indigenous beliefs and traditional spirituality remain a strong part of Angolan life, especially in rural areas, resulting in a unique blend of tradition and modern religion. For example, indigenous healing practices are used alongside Christian prayer and traditional food, music, and dance are used to celebrate Christian holidays.
Examples of this fusion can also be seen in festivals like Carnaval de Luanda, one of the most colorful and anticipated celebrations in Angola. The roots of Carnaval come from Portuguese culture. It is also seen in other countries like Brazil, which was also a Portuguese colony. However, Angola has incorporated its own unique dress, music, and food into the celebration, making it very specific to Angolan culture.
Business Culture
Angolans prefer to only do business with people they know and trust. Therefore, it is very important to spend time getting to know each other. Business is usually not as formal as in other cultures with legal paperwork and contracts. Meetings are also not as private. Several meetings often take place at the same time in the same room. There are no agendas for meetings. If an agenda is prepared, it is usually used as a starting point for a discussion and is not adhered to after. Despite the informality of meetings, meeting participants do dress professionally in a suit and removing your suit jacket is not recommended.
References
Commisceo. (2025). “Angola – Culture, Etiquette and Business Practices” Angola – Language, Culture, Customs And Etiquette
A World of History, Mexicohistorico.com. “Cultural Heritage of Angola: A Deep Dive” Cultural Heritage of Angola: A Deep Dive
Countries and their Cultures (Copyright 2008) “Angola”. Culture of Angola – history, people, clothing, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family
The Grown-up Travel Company. (2024). “Angola: Culture and History”. Exploring The Diverse Traditions, Customs, And History Of Angola | The Grown-Up Travel Company
