Local traditions and culture in Angola

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Somewhere in Zaire, bricks are produced in the easiest way: clay is mixed with straw, shaped and... it's done.

A couple of days under the bright sun replaces the firing costs, and Quiximba will continue to grow.

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The current flag of Angola came to use on the date of its Independence from Portugal - November 11, 1975. The flag was a simple modification of the guerilla movement, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which formed the first government. The upper red section repreents the blood shed during the struggle for war for independence. The lower black section represents Africa. In the middle is a Gold start as a tribute to the former Soviet Union. There is also a crossed machete to represent peasants over a cog wheel to represent industry and the workers.

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-Written on May 29, 2006:
For the first time ever, Angola Football National Team (Soccer in American english) is going to play in a World Cup Championship.

Angolans are very pride of that.

To attend this World Cup Championship, Angola needed to defeat the national teams of Chad, Algeria, Gabon, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Rwanda.

For Germany-2006, their matches are scheduled as following:
» Sunday, 11 June: Angola v Portugal
» Friday, 16 June: Mexico v Angola
» Wednesday, 21 June: Iran v Angola

Good luck Angola.

-Written on July 2, 2006:
The results of Angola were:
» Angola, 0 - Portugal, 1
» Mexico, 0 - Angola, 0
» Iran, 1 - Angola, 1

Football player Flávio Amado scored the very first and Angola's sole goal in 2006 World Cup.

Final Group Standing:
1st - Portugal ..... 9 points.
2nd - Mexico ...... 4 points.
3rd - ANGOLA ... 2 points.
4th - Iran ............. 1 point.

It is said that the Portuguese Football league is more popular in Angola than their own national league. Several people have positively confirmed that to me. Portuguese teams such as Benfica, Sporting, and Porto find thousands aficionados in Angola.

During football season, every weekend thousands of Angolans listen to the radio, watch on TV, and discuss with their friends the performance of their favourite portuguese team.

While wandering in Luanda, Angola's capital, visitors will notice that Benfica shirts, for instance, are usually on sight.

Angolans are big fans of Portuguese National Football team. Whenever there's a International match with the Portuguese Team involved, Angolans always stick on the portuguese side. [Well, a exception may be made for only one particular match for this June World Cup in Germany, where Angola will face Portugal as opponent].

Portuguese players such as Cristiano Ronaldo (Sporting of Portugal, Manchester United) and Luis Figo (Sporting of Portugal, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter of Milan) among others, are pretty well known in Angola.

The portuguese football national shirt (as pictured on this tip) is very popular among Angolans. Great.

Visitors to this African country will notice that local people really care about portuguese football.

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O Pensador (the Thinker in english), a hand-made crafted wood piece, is considered a national symbol in Angola.
I found the image of this piece in several official related matters. Even the kwanza banknotes, the national currency, features the Pensador in its watermark.

I've already done a little research on the internet about the Pensador. The interesting info I've found so far is here (Info is in portuguese only but I guess internet users should be able to use google translator for english).

ENGLISH - For portuguese speaking travelers: if you ask something, the answer 'ainda' means just 'no'. PORTUGUÊS - Para os lusófonos: se a resposta à sua pergunta fôr 'ainda', significa 'não'.
FRANÇAIS - Pour ceux qui comprennent le portugais: si la réponse à votre question est 'ainda', cela veut juste dire 'non'

On 11th November 2010, Angola celebrate its 35th year of Independence.
The streets of Luanda were decorated accordingly for the celebration.