Angola

In Angola, a regional or tribal sense of identity is often more important than the national sense. Angola's people are divided into many ethnic groups, but the majority fit into four major groups, The Bakongo, the Mbundu, the Ovimbundu, and the Lunda-Chokwe. The largest group is the Ovimbundu. They live in the west-central part of the country.

While Western medicine was introduced by the Europeans, traditional healing or treating people with herbs is also practiced, and often the two are combined. Western music is heard throughout Angola. Teenagers know the names of groups that are popular in Europe and America. Western films are also well known.  Angola has many popular music groups and singers of its own.

Only a small percentage of the population is literate therefore most people get their news and information from the television.  The lifestyle of most Angolans is dedicated to the constant struggle to find food and forage a livelihood.  Aspects of life taken for granted by many other societies such as food, fuel, water, and electricity are often difficult challenges for Angolans every day.

The Komba (“KUM-ba”) or funeral is organized by close friends and relatives and the cost of food and drink that is served at the Komba is covered by them. It is believed that the deceased will be happy if everyone celebrates.

Portuguese is the official language spoken in Angola therefore Ola (OH-lah) or hello is the most common greeting.  You might also hear Bom Dia (bone JEE-ah) Good Morning, Boa tarde (bow-ah TAR-day) Good Afternoon, or Boa noite (bow-ah NWAH-tay) Good Night.

Shaking hands is common. Pointing is considered rude.  Kissing on the cheek is an acceptable greeting among close friends.

When visiting Angola and interacting with the local people, it's helpful to keep the following points in mind to ensure a respectful and positive experience:

Greetings: Greet people with a handshake and a smile. In more formal settings, it is customary to use titles and surnames when addressing people until you are invited to use their first names.

Respect for Elders: Show respect for older individuals by addressing them with deference and allowing them to initiate conversations.

Punctuality: While punctuality is valued in formal settings, it's common for social gatherings and events to start later than the specified time. Being flexible and patient is appreciated.

Dress Code: Angola has a generally conservative dress code, particularly in more rural and traditional areas. It is advisable to dress modestly and avoid revealing clothing to show respect for local customs.

Social Etiquette: Angolan culture places importance on politeness, humility, and hospitality. Maintain a polite and friendly demeanor, and be attentive to local customs and traditions. Avoid confrontational or aggressive behavior.

Language: The official language of Angola is Portuguese, so learning a few basic Portuguese phrases can be helpful. However, many Angolans also speak local languages such as Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo, depending on the region.

Food and Dining: If invited to someone's home, it is customary to bring a small gift, such as chocolates, flowers, or a bottle of wine. When dining, it's polite to try a bit of everything offered and express appreciation for the food. Using your right hand for eating is the norm.

Photography: Always ask for permission before taking someone's photograph. Some people may not be comfortable being photographed, particularly in rural areas.

Safety and Security: As with any foreign destination, it's advisable to be aware of your surroundings and take necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Consult travel advisories and follow the guidance of local authorities.

Cultural Sensitivity: Be sensitive to cultural norms and avoid discussing sensitive topics such as politics, religion, and ethnic tensions unless the person you're speaking with initiates the conversation.

Angolans express their artistic sense by creating beautiful hairstyles and headdresses. Western-style of clothing is common although in the villages you still see traditional dress.  For women this is panos, or African wraparound batik garments.  Kids like casual jeans and tee shirts.

Cassava is the most important food in Angola. It can be made into flour, bread, tapioca or even alcohol. Fuba ("Foo-bar") is another popular dish made from Cassava. The raw Cassava root is poisonous and requires careful preparation before eaten. The leaves of the Cassava plant are removed and used to make Kizaka ("kiz-AH-ka") a vegetable dish. Besides Cassava, Millet and corn is staple foods.

Fish is also an important source of food. A typical family does not eat meat because it cannot afford it. Only on special occasions is a family owned chicken or duck is killed and eaten. Breakfast usually consist of funje ("PHON-jee") or bread, and a porridge made from cassava. Coffee is a popular drink. Lunch is often quick and informal and may consist of bread and cheese.

The evening meal is the main meal and is usually later when everyone has returned home from work. In the rural areas a popular bread is pao burro ("pow BORE-o") or donkey bread.

Most of the people in Angola live in simple wooden or clay houses. In the towns and villages, modern buildings often Portuguese-built stand in sharp contrast to the everyday house structure. The term "shantytown" -- known as musseque in Luanda describes a poor part of town where people live in crudely built shacks. The term musseque comes from the words mu(place) and seke(sand) The name is derived from the red sand found in coastal Luanda that forms the floor of the compounds that make up a musseque.

For those women living in a Musseque, the day's work starts by boiling water for coffee and breakfast. Clothes that have been left out to dry need to be taken down and put away. The washing of clothes is a daily activity and clean garments are folded and kept in plastic bags. Water is always needed and this involves a trip on foot with buckets to the nearest standpipe. The family washes each morning using cold water. Most young people travel to the nearest large town hoping to find a better life. However, jobs are scarce, and freshwater is a constant problem. Poor families live on fish because this is the cheapest way to feed themselves. Street children who have been left to fend for themselves are a common sight. They survive by begging for food.

In rural areas, Angolans live in village communities. The typical family is an extended one with grandparents and others living with the parents and their children. Most children will only spend their younger years in the family home because the lure of the city is a powerful one. Angolans who live in the countryside depend on their farms for a livelihood. The planting and harvesting of beans and cassava sustain many small farms.

In the rural areas, there are more women than men and often this results in a family being headed by a woman who takes on the responsibilities of looking after the family. Men are more likely to take charge of the family's cattle. Another means for rural families to earn extra cash is by working in traditional crafts such as the making of household items.

Christmas is celebrated with a special meal. For Angolans Christmas is more of a family occasion than a religious event.

In the countryside, it is not uncommon for Angolan parents to suggest a possible partner for their son or daughter. However, in urban areas, this practice is declining. However, once the marriage is arrived at, compulsory registration in a government office takes place.

The wedding celebration usually consists of a special meal where drinks will be available and a party atmosphere with singing and dancing accompanying the marriage ceremony. For a few more wealthy Angolans, there may be a church ceremony where the bride will wear white and the groom will wear a dress and tie.

The most popular sport in Angola is soccer. Boys of all ages play soccer in the streets, often with a ball they made themselves out of fabric. Since few Angolans attend high school they rarely participate on school teams. Basketball, swimming, and volleyball are also popular.

Weekends at the sandy beach outside of Luanda with a picnic are a favorite pastime for those from the city. While gathering around an open fire with stores and talking are the norm in rural areas.

Musical instruments include drums known as bongos or tam-tams are popular instruments for accompanying dancing. In the past, musical instruments were used to send messages. Saxi (Sar-Ki) or maracas are a typical instrument made from the dried fruit known as maboque (MA-boo-ker) and are filled with dried seeds or glass beads. Sagaya (sar-Ga-ya) of the Humbi people is an ordinary hunting bow fitted with a mouth brace. The player breathes through the brace while stroking the bow's strings with a fine strip of leather. Hungu (HUNG-go) is a small stick and bow. The stick is held in the right hand and plays the bow which is held at stomach level.

In times past all students were taught in Portuguese. This put a burden on many students since few of them lived where they heard people speaking Portuguese.  Currently, more education is taught in local languages.  The prolonged civil conflict left the Angolan educational sector in a state of disarray consequently Angola has a low literacy rate. Additional causes include a lack of adequate school infrastructures, including poor water and sanitation facilities; a lack of teachers, in particular in remote and rural areas;  overcrowded and multi-age classroom groups. Education is now being firmly endorsed as the engine for restoration and renewal. Recently the head of the Education department in Bailundo district, some 80 kilometers to the north of Huambo city (central Angola), appealed to local teachers to provide an education of quality as the only guarantee for the country's future.  In addition to government schools, there are also schools run by missions.  Many of the Angolans who go on to secondary education obtain scholarships abroad after studying at a mission-run school. Primary education is for four years and secondary for seven years.  Education for children roughly between the ages of 7 and 15 years is compulsory and free but only for four years and less than 50 percent of the youth attend.   Most children will not attend school after the fourth grade unless they live in one of the larger towns. Schools can have up to three sessions a day with the first one starting at 7 am, the second one starting at 11 am and the third one starting at 3 pm. The third session is usually for adults and goes till 7 pm. Education between 7 and 15 years of age is provided free of charge by the government. Youth make up a large percentage of Angola’s population. Around 50 percent of Angolans are under the age of 13.  Angola has signed and ratified the "Convention on the Rights of the Child" and has affirmed its commitment and intention to achieve the Education for All (EFA) goal that states that by 2015 all children will “have access to and complete free compulsory primary education of good quality”