Like many African nations, Angola’s indigenous history is rich with a practice of oral history and storytelling. Records of the written word mostly begin to appear during the Portuguese colonial era from the 16th-20th century.

The earliest records of published Angolan authors are around the late 19th and early 20th centuries, addressing themes of identity, resistance and the impact of colonialism.

 Angola didn’t achieve independence until 1975, however the decades prior were a pressure cooker of Nationalism and revolt. As such the writings of that time were focused on themes of freedom, independence, and nationalism.

Angola’s first president, Agostinho Neto was a renowned poet, including his famous collection called “Sacred Hope”.

Like many post colonial nations, Angola’s current literary landscape is diverse, but often features themes of reconstruction, post colonial social issues, and the long term impacts of racism and imperial ambitions.