Angola

The history of Angola can be summarized in ‘trial and error’. The area has been inhabited by different groups of people since the early days. First through the San. After that, Bantu tribes more or less took over the area. In the 13th Century came the kingdom of Kongo in the area now known as Northern Angola. This empire derived its prosperity mainly from agriculture. Something this place on earth is particularly good for. However, everything changed when the Portuguese arrived in 1482.

The king of Kongo was no match for the modern technology brought by the Portuguese. With weapons and oppression, he became a vassal of the Portuguese. The Angolan kingdom was forced to surrender slaves, minerals and ivory to the European occupiers.

In the mid-17th Century, the Portuguese slowly lost power due to an internal shift in power towards the Spaniards. This suited the Dutch well. In 1641 they took over the Portuguese colonies in Angola. The Dutch were also mainly involved in the exploitation of slaves, minerals and ivory.

Dutch rule did not last long. Seven years later, Luanda was already recaptured by the Portuguese who had found Brazil as a power base. This was the beginning of the second Portuguese colony. Angola’s interior was otherwise well into the 19th century free from any foreign influences.

The abolition of slavery was a long process. Although it was officially abolished in 1836, there were certainly well into the 70s of the 19th century slaves used for the production of agricultural goods.

In the course of the 20th Century, the structure of the colony slowly changed into a kind of semi-independent apartheid state. The country had a very outdated economy and there was no form of higher education until well into the 1950s. In 1961, the Angolans finally rebelled against 400 years of Portuguese rule.

This colonial war ended in 1975 with Angola’s victory and independence. The very first president of Angola was Agostinho Neto. However, he died suddenly in Moscow in 1979, after which José Eduardo dos Santos took over. Peace in Angola did not last long, as almost immediately after independence, the country entered a long and heavy civil war that lasted until 2002 and cost more than a million lives. Santos eventually stayed in office until 2017, becoming one of Africa’s longest-serving presidents.

The country has been under construction and recovery since 2002. Angola is developing at a rapid pace. Especially in Luanda the developments are quick: the city transforms rapidly into a technology hub. In addition, there is a lot of new industry in Angola.

The peace in the country is good news for tourists: more and more areas are safe to travel again. As a result, the beautiful natural treasures and rich cultures of local tribes are finally discovered by tourists.