History of Angola

Angola is a country in southwestern Africa. Portugal explored the region and founded settlements and trading posts. Luanda was founded by Paulo Dias de Novais in the 16th century. The annexed territories in the region were ruled as a colony from 1655, and Angola was incorporated as an overseas province of Portugal in 1951. After the Angolan War of Independence (1961-1974) which ended with a leftist military coup in Lisbon, Angola's independence from Portugal was achieved on November 11, 1975 through the Alvor Agreement.

Climate

Like the rest of tropical Africa, Angola experiences distinct, alternating rainy and dry seasons. It is semiarid in South and along coast to Luanda; North has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April). In the interior, above 3300 ft. (1000 m), the temperature and rainfall decrease. The plateau climate is healthy and invigorating. The mean annual temperature at São Salvador do Congo is 22.2°C (72.5°F); at Luanda, 23.3°C (74.3°F); and at Caconda, 19.5°C (67.2°F). The climate is greatly influenced by the prevailing winds, which arc W., S.W. and S.S.W. Two seasons are distinguished - the cool, from June to September; and the rainy, from October to May. The heaviest rainfall occurs in April, and is accompanied by violent storms.

Location

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates: 12°30′S 18°30′E  / 12.5°S 18.5°E  / -12.5; 18.5

Map references: Africa

Culture

The culture of Angola is influenced by several ethnies which shaped the country. Portugal ruled over Angola for 400 years and both countries share cultural aspects: language (Portuguese) and main religion (Roman CatholicChristianity). However, the Angolan culture is mostly native Bantu which was mixed with Portuguese culture. The diverse ethnic communities with their own cultural traits, traditions and native languages or dialects include the Ovimbundu, Mbundu, Bakongo, Chokwe, and other peoples.

Sport in Angola

Sport plays a significant part in the lives of the Angolan people. The country is one of the leading basketball nations on the African continent having won the African Basketball Championships in 2003. Angola also represented the continent in the basketball competition at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.

The country is also one of the three African Nations alongside Senegal and Nigeria to participate at the World Championships in Japan, 2006.

Soccer or football is the most popular sport in Angola. The country’s made its mark on the international scene when it qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The team qualified for the tournament despite being grouped with strong sides such as Zimbabwe and Nigeria.
Other popular sports in the country are; handball, boxing, volleyball, athletics and swimming.

Angola Football Achievements

COSAFA Cup :

• 3 Times Champion (1999, 2001, 2004)

Central African Games :

• 1 Time Runners-Up

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