Portuguese Angolans
Encyclopedia
Portuguese Angolan is a person of Portuguese descent
born or permanently living in Angola
.
were established in the 16th century. Some Portuguese settlers married native Africans resulting in a mixed-race (mulato
, later generally called mestiço) population. Angola was declared a formal Portuguese province
in the 19th century, but only in the early 20th century did the mainland government allow large-scale white emigration and settlement to Angola and its other provinces.
In the 1960s, Angola had up to 300,000 Portuguese settlers, who significantly contributed to its economy. As the Angolan war of independence
began in 1961, triggering off a late colonial develoment of Angola, there was an influx of Portuguese military personnel, as well as civil servants and other people. As a consequence, the number of Portuguese living in Angola went up to about 350,000.. This number would have been higher, had a significant part of the settlers not left for other countries, especially Namibia
, Brazil
, South Africa
and the United States
. While most whites then living in Angola sided with Portugel's efforts to suppress the anti-colonial revolt, a minority sympathized with the nationalist movements, and a few even joined them in their fight. When the Salazar
regime in Portugal was abolished by a military coup in Portugal, in 1974, and independence was granted to the colonies by the new government, whites overwhelmingly left Angola after independence in 1975. Most of them went to Portugal
, where they were called retornados and were not always welcomed, while others moved to neighboring Namibia (then a South Africa
n territory), South Africa or Brazil, or United States.
Among the departed Portuguese civilians, many were allowed to take with them only a single suitcase and 150 escudos
, with all household goods left in their respective houses, while most of them were able to dispatch their houshold good and even cars by ship. They boarded planes at Luanda's Craveiro Lopes Airport at the rate of 500 a day, but there were not enough flights to cover demand. The new government gave all remaining Portuguese settlers a few months period to choose Angolan citizenship or to leave the country. A significant minority of them opted for Angola, and some of them took actively part in the decolonisation conflict and in the [Angolan Civil War], generally on the side of the MPLA.
After Angola abandoned in 1991 the socialist regime adopted at independence, in 1975, many Portuguese Angolans returned to Angola. Due to Angola's economic boom, which started in the 1990s, an incresing number of Portuguese without previous attachment to Angola have migrated to Angola for economic reasons, most importantly the recent national economic boom
. As of 2008, Angola was the preferred destination for Portuguese migrants in Africa. Their migrations increased the Portuguese population to an estimated 120,000. At this stage (2011) most of them do not consider themselves as "Portuguese Angolans".
and lingua franca
of Angola. Their communities existing in Luanda, Benguela and Moçâmedes (today Namibe) spoke until the early 20th century European (in Benguela: Brazilian) Portuguese mixed with numerous elements from African languages, especially Kimbundu and Umbundu. In the course of the 20th century, due to the waves of new settlers arriving from Portugal, their language became practically identical with European Portuguesa. Some Portuguese Angolans have a lesser or greater mastery of one of the Bantu languages
– notably Kimbundu
, Umbundu
, and Kikongo – but their number has diminished dramatically after independence, and hardly anybody now uses an African langua as second languages. Many educated Portuguese Angolans learnt French
and, less intensely, English
during the colonial period; since independence, white as well as black educated people generally learn English, while French has faded into the background. The vast majority of Portuguese Angolans are Christians
, mostly Roman Catholics, although many of them do not practice their religion. A very small numer of them are Jews
, whose ancestors escaped the Inquisition
.
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
born or permanently living in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
.
History
The first Portuguese settlements in AngolaAngola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
were established in the 16th century. Some Portuguese settlers married native Africans resulting in a mixed-race (mulato
Mulato
The mulato pepper is a mild to medium chile pepper, closely related to the poblano , and usually sold dried. Mexican mulato chiles are part of the famous "trilogy" used in mole as well as other Mexican sauces and stews. The mulato's color while growing is dark green, maturing to red or brown...
, later generally called mestiço) population. Angola was declared a formal Portuguese province
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
in the 19th century, but only in the early 20th century did the mainland government allow large-scale white emigration and settlement to Angola and its other provinces.
In the 1960s, Angola had up to 300,000 Portuguese settlers, who significantly contributed to its economy. As the Angolan war of independence
Angolan War of Independence
The Angolan War of Independence began as an uprising against forced cotton cultivation, and became a multi-faction struggle for control of Portugal's Overseas Province of Angola with three nationalist movements and a separatist movement...
began in 1961, triggering off a late colonial develoment of Angola, there was an influx of Portuguese military personnel, as well as civil servants and other people. As a consequence, the number of Portuguese living in Angola went up to about 350,000.. This number would have been higher, had a significant part of the settlers not left for other countries, especially Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. While most whites then living in Angola sided with Portugel's efforts to suppress the anti-colonial revolt, a minority sympathized with the nationalist movements, and a few even joined them in their fight. When the Salazar
Salazar
- Angola :* Vila Salazar, Portuguese colonial name for the city of N'dalatando in the province of Cuanza Norte- Spain :* Salazar , a village in the municipality of Villarcayo de Merindad de Castilla la Vieja, province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León* Salazar Valley, in...
regime in Portugal was abolished by a military coup in Portugal, in 1974, and independence was granted to the colonies by the new government, whites overwhelmingly left Angola after independence in 1975. Most of them went to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, where they were called retornados and were not always welcomed, while others moved to neighboring Namibia (then a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n territory), South Africa or Brazil, or United States.
Among the departed Portuguese civilians, many were allowed to take with them only a single suitcase and 150 escudos
Angolan escudo
The escudo was the currency of Angola between 1914 and 1928 and again between 1958 and 1977. It was subdivided into 100 centavos with the macuta worth 5 centavos and was equivalent to the Portuguese escudo.-History:...
, with all household goods left in their respective houses, while most of them were able to dispatch their houshold good and even cars by ship. They boarded planes at Luanda's Craveiro Lopes Airport at the rate of 500 a day, but there were not enough flights to cover demand. The new government gave all remaining Portuguese settlers a few months period to choose Angolan citizenship or to leave the country. A significant minority of them opted for Angola, and some of them took actively part in the decolonisation conflict and in the [Angolan Civil War], generally on the side of the MPLA.
After Angola abandoned in 1991 the socialist regime adopted at independence, in 1975, many Portuguese Angolans returned to Angola. Due to Angola's economic boom, which started in the 1990s, an incresing number of Portuguese without previous attachment to Angola have migrated to Angola for economic reasons, most importantly the recent national economic boom
Economy of Angola
The Economy of Angola is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, with the Economist asserting that for 2001 to 2010, Angolas' Annual average GDP growth was 11.1 percent. It is still recovering from the Angolan Civil War that plagued Angola from independence in 1975 until 2002...
. As of 2008, Angola was the preferred destination for Portuguese migrants in Africa. Their migrations increased the Portuguese population to an estimated 120,000. At this stage (2011) most of them do not consider themselves as "Portuguese Angolans".
Notable people
Notable Angolan people of Portuguese descent include:- Artur Pestana called PepetelaPepetelaArtur Carlos Maurício Pestana dos Santos is a major Angolan writer of fiction. He writes under the name Pepetela....
, writer - Paulo FigueiredoPaulo FigueiredoPaulo José Lopes de Figueiredo , nicknamed Figueiredo , is an Angolan football midfielder, who plays for C.R.D. Libolo in the Girabola.-Biography:...
, footballer - Ricardo TeixeiraRicardo Teixeira (racing driver)Ricardo Teixeira is a Portuguese-Angolan racing driver. He holds dual nationality and has raced under both nationalities at various points in his career. His career has been sponsored by the Angolan oil company, Sonangol.-Formula BMW:Teixeira began his formula racing career in 2001 by driving in...
, racing driver - José Eduardo AgualusaJosé Eduardo AgualusaJosé Eduardo Agualusa is an Angolan journalist and writer. He studied agronomy and silviculture in Lisbon, Portugal. He currently spends most of his time in Portugal, Angola and Brazil, working as a writer and journalist. His books have been translated into twenty languages...
, writer - Luandino Vieira, writer
- Ana Paula Ribeiro TavaresAna Paula Ribeiro TavaresAna Paula Ribeiro Tavares is a poet who began her undergraduate degree in History at the University of Lubango Ana Paula Ribeiro Tavares (Lubango, province of Huíla, Angola, 30 October 1952) is a poet who began her undergraduate degree in History at the University of Lubango Ana Paula Ribeiro...
writer, historian - Francisco Santos, artist
Language and Religion
Their native language is of course Portuguese, which today is the official languageOfficial language
An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction. Typically a nation's official language will be the one used in that nation's courts, parliament and administration. However, official status can also be used to give a...
and lingua franca
Lingua franca
A lingua franca is a language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a mother tongue, in particular when it is a third language, distinct from both mother tongues.-Characteristics:"Lingua franca" is a functionally defined term, independent of the linguistic...
of Angola. Their communities existing in Luanda, Benguela and Moçâmedes (today Namibe) spoke until the early 20th century European (in Benguela: Brazilian) Portuguese mixed with numerous elements from African languages, especially Kimbundu and Umbundu. In the course of the 20th century, due to the waves of new settlers arriving from Portugal, their language became practically identical with European Portuguesa. Some Portuguese Angolans have a lesser or greater mastery of one of the Bantu languages
Bantu languages
The Bantu languages constitute a traditional sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages. There are about 250 Bantu languages by the criterion of mutual intelligibility, though the distinction between language and dialect is often unclear, and Ethnologue counts 535 languages...
– notably Kimbundu
Kimbundu
North Mbundu, or Kimbundu, one of two Bantu languages called Mbundu is one of the most widely spoken Bantu languages in Angola, concentrated in the north-west of the country, notably in the Luanda Province, the Bengo Province and the Malanje Province...
, Umbundu
Mbundu
The Northern Mbundu or Ambundu are a people living in Angola's North-West, North of the river Kwanza. The Ambundu speak Kimbundu, and mostly also the official language of the country, Portuguese...
, and Kikongo – but their number has diminished dramatically after independence, and hardly anybody now uses an African langua as second languages. Many educated Portuguese Angolans learnt French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and, less intensely, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
during the colonial period; since independence, white as well as black educated people generally learn English, while French has faded into the background. The vast majority of Portuguese Angolans are Christians
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, mostly Roman Catholics, although many of them do not practice their religion. A very small numer of them are Jews
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, whose ancestors escaped the Inquisition
Inquisition
The Inquisition, Inquisitio Haereticae Pravitatis , was the "fight against heretics" by several institutions within the justice-system of the Roman Catholic Church. It started in the 12th century, with the introduction of torture in the persecution of heresy...
.
External links
- Flight from Angola, The Economist, August 16, 1975