People And Society in Angola

Most of Angola’s people today are black Africans. The Ovimbundu, Mbundu, Bakongo and the Luanda-Chokwe are just a few of the many ethnic groups who live in Angola. Before Angola became independent (pre 1975), there were many Europeans who had settled here, apart from the "Mestizos" (people of mixed black African and white Portuguese ancestry). Most of the Europeans fled when the civil war began. Put them all together and you still have 11.1 million people living in the country.

Most of Angola's people live in rural areas and work on farms and tend cattle. Many of these farmers live hand to mouth. The Europeans who didn’t flee and the Mestizos are concentrated in the cities where they run their own businesses or work at jobs that are technology and management related. The Angolans are hugely influenced by the Portuguese, so it wouldn’t be surprising to find people on the streets of Luanda dancing to salsa, lambada or meringue music. They are very proud of their Latin roots and display it in their everyday lives.