Angola (Parallel Brazil)

Angola, officially the Republic of Angola (Portuguese: República de Angola), is a country in Southern Africa. It is the seventh-largest country in Africa, and is bordered by Namibia to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north and east, Zambia to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to west. The exclave province of Cabinda has borders with the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The capital and largest city of Angola is Luanda.

Although its territory has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Era, modern Angola originates in Portuguese and Brazilian colonization, which began with, and was for centuries limited to, coastal settlements and trading posts established from the 16th century onwards. In the 19th century, after the cession of Angola to Brazil, European and Brazilian settlers slowly and hesitantly began to establish themselves in the interior. As a Brazilian colony, Angola did not encompass its present borders until the late 19th century, following resistance by groups such as the Cuamato, the Kwanyama and the Mbunda. Autonomy was achieved in 1877 as the Union of Angola, an Imperial Realm of the Brazilian colonial empire. Since then, Angola has seen the continuous increase of its political autonomy to full independence in 1947.

Angola has vast mineral and petroleum reserves, and its economy is among the most dynamic in Africa. In spite of this, the standard of living is medium-leveled (althouth high for African standards) for the majority of the population, and life expectancy and infant mortality rates in Angola are among the best in Africa.

Angola has a powerful economy in Africa, having the 37th largest economy by nominal GDP (the fourth among the African countries), the 57th largest nominal GDP per capita (the third among the African countries).

Angola is a member state of the United Nations, OPEC, African Union, the Luso-Brasilic Union of Nations (ULBRAN), the Latin Union and the Southern African Development Community.

A highly multiethnic country, Angola's 24.3 million people span various tribal groups, customs, and traditions. Angolan culture reflects centuries of Portuguese and Brazilian rule, namely in the predominance of the Portuguese language and Roman Catholicism, combined with diverse indigenous influences.