Page 69 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 17

Leadership

ANGOLA

A Blessed Nation

Samuel Phillips

and diamond producer in sub-Saharan CIA Factbook (2012 est.) star on the flag of the former Soviet Union.
Africa • The name of the country is derived (Source: https://wanderwisdom.com).
• Luanda is known as the “ Paris of from the Kimbundu word N’gola,
Africa” - This title is apparently due meaning King - N’gola (King) Ki- There is a blessing that comes with
to the city’s sophisticated culture and luange was the king of the Ndongo the reality of motherhood and the
atmosphere Kingdom at the time of the Portuguese womb that understands that as long
• Portuguese is the official language - arrival in what is now Angola as life starts from the womb, life can
Other spoken languages include Um- • Angola’s national tree is the majestic only be sustained by that which is
bundu, Kimbundu, Kikongo, and imbondeiro - There is one tree that is blessed. This is why there is no way
Tchokwe special to Angolans, it’s called “im- any nation in the world can survive
• Angola gained independence in 1975 bondeiro”. There was a popular belief a decade on their own without some
- The country got independence from that God planted this tree, also known form of resource coming out of
Portugal on November 11, 1975. It as “Boabob” upside down. The un- Afrika to them. This shows you how
was the last country in Africa to gain usual looking imbondeiro tree can be blessed Afrika is and has always
independence from Portugal found growing all over the country and been. Now since this issue is about
• Civil war lasted from independence on local artwork Angola, howbeit, it’s also about
(1975) to 2002 - After Angola • Angola is twice the size of Texas - Afrika, that means whatever blessing
gained independence, the country went The country spans 481,354 square that Afrika has been to the world is
through a long period of civil war, miles, making it the world’s 23rd what Angola is.
causing millions of lives to be lost largest country. It’s the seventh largest
• Angola has a very young population country in Africa Angola, you are blessed beyond
- Interestingly, nearly 70% of the pop- • The local currency is called the Kwan- words, both as a nation of great
ulation in Angola is under the age of za (AOA) - 1 USD is about 95 people and as a land of natural re-
24 Kwanza sources. I pray that you be reminded
• Shortage of men - After 27 years of The Angolan flag is red, black and gold - of the blessing that you are, always,
civil war, there’s a shortage of men in The red part of the flag represents the blood and by wisdom, start to create a new
the country. So it’s not unusual for a of Angolans killed in conflicts, the black reality for yourself far beyond the
man to have several “non-official” represents the Angolan people, and as for begging bowl that the world wants
wives the gold parts - the cogwheel represents in- you to be.
• Life expectancy for both men and dustry, the gold machete represents peasant- Angola you are blessed.
women is 54.59 years, according to the ry, and the gold star is modeled after the

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