Angola

FOOD AND BEVERAGES

Alcoholic beverages of Angola

Various homemade spirits are made, including capatica (made from bananas, a Cuanza Norte specialty), caporoto (made from maize, a Malanje specialty); cazi or caxipembe (made from potato and cassava skin); kimbombo (made from corn), maluva or ocisangua (made with palm tree juice, sometimes described as "palm wine," a Northern Angola specialty), ngonguenha (made from toasted manioc flour), and ualende (made from sugarcane, sweet potato, corn, or fruits, a Bie specialty).

HOLIDAYS AND TRADITIONS

Culture of Angola

The origin of the culture of Angola is tied to the traditions of the central Bantu peoples and the ancient kingdom of Kongo. Located on the southwestern coast of Africa, Angola became a key colony in the growing Portuguese empire after 1500, but for most of the years of its domination Portugal exerted little cultural influence, content to control the slave trade from forts along the coast.

HOLIDAYS AND TRADITIONS

Weddings in Angolan Culture

As with many African countries, the Angolan culture constitutes a number of different tribes. Naturally, Angolan weddings and traditional marriage practices will and do vary from tribe to tribe and culture to culture.