Angola
Bordered on the north and north-east by the Congo Republic, on the southeast by the Republic of Zambia, on the south by the Republic of Namibia, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, the Republic of Angola (with its capital at Luanda and a total land area of approximately 486,213 sq. miles) is the largest and most populous of Portugal’s former African territories. Though Portuguese is still the official language, Angola is home to a large number of different ethnic groupings each with their own languages and culture. Among the larger groups one finds the Bakongo (13%), the Kimbundu (25%) and the Ovimbundu (37%). The mixed race population constitutes another 2%, and Europeans a further 1%. The remaining 22% of the population is composed of smaller African groups. Though approximately 38% of the population is claimed by the Catholic church and another 15% by various Protestant denominations, a full 47% of the population still practices indigenous religions. Angola is of particular interest to the BLACFOUNDATION because it is here where Capoeira, a spectacular martial art from Brazil, is believed to have its roots. For more about Capoeira and the Angola connection see Dr. E. Powe’s Black Martial Arts III: Part I: Capoeria and Congo.
