Angola is a country in the south-western part of Africa that has a coast line of about 1000 miles in the South Atlantic Ocean. Much of this country is covered with desert or savannas. Only a small portion in Angola’s north-eastern parts are covered with forests. In terms of size, Angola is a big country and is even three times larger than the California state in the US. Below are some facts related to this south-western African country and its people:

Fact 1: Angola is the origin of many slaves that came to Brazil. Being colonized by Portugal, many Angolans were brought to as far as Brazil in South America to become slaves and serve their masters. From the 15th century down to the modern times, millions of Angolans were brought by their Portuguese colonizers to Brazil and became slaves.

Fact 2: Angola is one of China’s main suppliers of oil. This country relies heavily on its oil reserves to support its economy. Oil and diamonds are the main products of this big country in Africa.

Fact 3: Angola’s currency is called the kwanza and it may not be taken out of the country. Bring the national currency out of the country is considered illegal and people who do so may be face punishment and/or penalties.

Fact 4: Brazil’s samba music is said to have originated from Angola. T he original Angolan music called “Semba” is a common musical style in this country and was later brought to Brazil through slaves that were under the Portuguese rule. Semba eventually became the main influence of Samba music that is popular in Brazil and in other parts of Latin America.

Fact 5: It is illegal for people to take pictures of government buildings in Angola. People who take snapshots of government and/or military structures and establishments in the country may be penalized for such an act.

Fact 6: Life expectancy in Angola is only 40 years. The main reason for this is that this country remains one of the poorest across the whole of Africa and the rest of the world. The civil war that took place in 1975 to 2002 further made Angolans poor, sickly, and malnourished. Despite crude oil deposits, diamonds, and other natural resources, most Angolans are live below the poverty line with no basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing.

Fact 7: The Angolan flag got inspiration from the Soviet Union flag. Both flags have a star while the Soviet Union’s hammer and sickle silhouette is replaced with a machete and cogwheel in the Angolan version.

Fact 8: Angola has fewer HIV or AIDS cases compared to other African countries. Only about 2% of Angola’s population had become affected of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the whole Africa. Many health experts attribute this to the long civil war in this country.

Fact 9: Sickle-cell disease is common in Angolan babies or infants. This major health statistic further increases the mortality rates in this poor country. Such a disease is considered genetic or hereditary.

Fact 10: It is common for Angolans to take a bow when meeting older people. Shaking hands is considered the normal thing to do when meeting up with regular people but bowing is the customary thing to do when it comes to meeting with older people.