The first structured groups of people to populate the territory that today constitutes Angola were the Boschimans —great hunters, of pigmy stature and light brown pigmentation.

At the beginning of the sixth century A.D., more evolved peoples of black pigmentation, technologically belonging to the Metal Age, undertook one of the greatest migrations in history.

They were the Bantu and they came from the north, most likely from the region that today constitutes the Republic of the Cameroon. Upon arriving in Angola, these people found the Boschimans and other groups to be more primitive and imposed upon them their own technology in the areas of metallurgy, ceramics and agriculture. The settlement of the Bantu continued for many centuries, generating diverse ethnic groups who came to establish themselves as distinct ethnicities that have lasted to this date.

The first great political unification of the territory came to be known in history as the Kingdom of the Congo. It arose in the thirteenth century, expanding from Gabon in the North to the Kwanza River in the south, the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the Kuango River on the east.

Agriculture was its greatest resource; power was in the hands of the Mani – aristocrats that occupied key locations in the kingdom, subordinates only to the almighty King of the Congo. Mbanza was a great territorial unit organized and governed by a Mani; Mbanza Congo was the capital and had a population of over 50,000 inhabitants in the sixteenth century. The Kingdom of the Congo was divided into six provinces and included a few tributary kingdoms, such as Ngondo in the south. Commercial activity was its primary economic activity, based on a strong agricultural production and a growing mining industry.

In 1482, Portuguese ships captained by Diogo Cão arrived in the Congo. Other voyages would follow and relations between the two states were quickly established. The Portuguese had firearms and an interesting religion; on the other hand, the Kingdom of the Congo could offer slaves, ivory and mineral resources to the Portuguese. The King of the Congo would soon convert to the Christian faith and would adopt a political structure much like the European model. He would become a well-known figure in Europe, and even received personal correspondence from the Pontiff.

To the south of the Kingdom of the Congo, in the Kwanza River region, there were many important states. The Kingdom of Ngondo, governed by the Ngola (king) was the most important.

Ngola Kiluange reined at the time of the Portuguese arrival and had for several decades resisted the foreigners along with the political coalitions made with neighboring states. He would die decapitated in Luanda. Years later, the Ngondo would resurface by usurping power from N’Zinga Mbandi, immortalized as the Queen of the N’Zinga- whose clever politics would contain the Portuguese with well planned treaties. She embarked on several voyages, and finally in 1635 was able to form a great coalition with the states of Matamba, Congo, Kassaje, Dembos and Kissamas.

At the head of the powerful coalition, N’Zinga pushed the Portuguese back towards the coastline. In the meantime, Portugal was occupied by Spain, leaving its overseas territories effectively powerless. The Dutch took advantage of the situation and took Luanda in 1641. N’Zinga allied with the Dutch, augmenting the force of the coalition and reducing the Portuguese to Massangano, a center which they securely occupied and from where they sporadically parted for their Kuata! Kuata! Wars (to capture slaves). The slaves from Angola were fundamental to the development of the colony of Brazil and its traffic was at a stand still.

In 1648, there arrived from Brazil a large squadron commanded by Salvador Correia de Sá, which reoccupied Luanda, provoking a massive revolt from the Portuguese. Thus began the decline of the coalition; the absence of the Dutch allies and their firearms and the forceful position of Correia de Sá dealt a powerful blow to the morale of the native forces. N’Zinga died in 1663. Two years later, the King of the Congo would exert all his forces in order to retake the island of Luanda, which was occupied by Correia de Sá, only to be defeated and lose his independence. The kingdom of Ndongo would likewise be subjected to the Portuguese Crown in 1771.

The Portuguese colony in Angola was formed in 1575 with the arrival of Novais with 100 families of colonizers and 400 soldiers. Luanda would become a city in 1605. Commerce was essentially carried out with Brazil. The Brazilian ships were the most numerous in the ports of Luanda and Benguela. The Portuguese colony of Angola was in fact a colony of Brazil, paradoxically, another Portuguese colony. In the areas of religion and education, the Jesuits also exercised a strong Brazilian influence.

The philosophy of war was gradually replaced by the philosophy of commerce.

It was the large commercial routes and subsequent agreements that transformed the states. Warrior states were transformed into states destined for production, and consequently, for commerce.

From the plateau emerged the states of Bié and Bailundo. The latter would become known for its production of foodstuffs and of rubber.

Meanwhile, the colonial power, growing richer and more powerful, would not tolerate the development of these states, and would subject them one by one, gaining total control of the territory by the beginning of the last century.

After 1764, Angola went from a being a slave-centered society to gradually becoming a subsistence-centered economy.

In 1850, Luanda was already a large city, full of commercial firms and exporting jointly with Benguela, palm and peanut oil, wax, rubber, glue, wood, ivory, cotton, coffee, cocoa, among other products. Corn, tobacco, dried beef and manioc flour likewise began to be produced locally. The Angolan bourgeoisie was about to emerge.

Meanwhile, in 1836, the slave trade was abolished and in 1844 the Angolan ports would be opened to foreign ships. With the Berlin Conference, Portugal was compelled to immediately carry out the occupation of its territorial colony.

The territory of Cabinda, located north of the Zaire River, would likewise be conferred to Portugal, owing to the legitimacy of the Protectorate Treaty of Simulambuko, signed by the Kings of Portugal and of Cabinda in 1885. After a slow and complicated introduction, the end of the nineteenth century would mark the organization of a colonial administration in direct relation with the territory and its people to be governed. In economic terms, the colonial strategy was based on agriculture and the exportation of raw materials.

The rubber and ivory industry, which was fueled by the revenue collected from taxes imposed on the people, rendered great profits for Lisbon.

Portugal’s policies in Angola in the beginning of the twentieth century would change with the implementation of new reforms.

The end of the monarchy in Portugal and a favorable international situation would force new reforms at the administrative, agricultural and educational levels. With the State now extended to the colonies, Angola became yet another province of Portugal (an overseas province).

The existing situation was apparently calm. In the second half of the twentieth century, this calmness would stir with the appearance of the first nationalist movements. In the 1950s there began to form more explicitly political organizations, which systematically made their rights heard. They promoted diplomatic campaigns throughout the world, clamoring for independence. Meanwhile, the colonial powers would not concede to the demands of the nationalist forces, provoking the uprising of direct, armed conflicts--the so called, “Armed Struggle”.

Standing out in the “Struggle” was the MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) founded in 1956, the FNLA (National Front for the Liberation of Angola), which appeared in 1961, and UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola) in 1966.

After many long years of struggle, the country achieved independence on November 11, 1975.

Source: Angola - A Fabulous Country. Luis Palanque. LPE International.