Angola Independence Month!
Angola celebrates its independence this month! The country turned 44 on the 11th of November 2019. Angola is a country in southcentral Africa. The country’s name comes from the Kimbundu word for king. It is one of the mineral- and resource-richest African countries due to its substantial diamond and oil reserves. Although the country is experiencing a construction “boom”, a large percentage of the population still remains poor.
The Portuguese first arrived in the late 15th century. It remained a Portuguese colony for 400 years, with the exception of a period of Dutch occupation from 1641 to 1848.
The armed struggle for Angolan independence began in 1961. We know it as the Portuguese Colonial War or the War of Liberation (in the former Portuguese colonies). The main protagonists in this struggle were the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).
In 1974, a military coup known as the Carnation Revolution took place in Portugal. The new government put an end to the war by agreeing to recognize the independence of its colonies. As a result, on November 11, 1975, the MPLA took control of the capital city of Luanda and declared the independence of Angola.
Angola’s Independence Day is a public holiday widely celebrated throughout the country and across the globe. The festivities involve many formal speeches, solemn ceremonies, parades, concerts, and other festive events and activities.
More about Angola, key indicators, the resources it boasts here. We share information on how to navigate the country (languages, travel, food, accommodation) and everything else an entrepreneur would need.
