Ganguela
Encyclopedia
Ganguela or Nganguela is the name of a small ethnic group living in Angola
, but since colonial times the term has been applied to a number of peoples East of the Bié Plateau
. In addition to the Nganguela proper, this ethnographic category includes the Lwena (Luena), the Luvale, the Mbunda, the Lwimbi, the Camachi and others.
All of these people live on subsistence agriculture, on the upbreeding of small animals, and from gathering wild fruit, honey and other eatable items. Each group have their own language, although these are related among themselves. Each groups also has its own social identity
; there exists no overreaching social identity encompassing them all, so that one connot speak of these groups as one people divided into subgroups.
Europeans unfamiliar with the "Ganguela" ethnic groups, but also contemporary urban Angolans often consider them erroneously as "tribes" of the Ovimbundu
. However, they are in fact quite distinct fom the Ovimbundu, in terms of language, culture, and social identity. It is true that some of them who live in the immediate neighbourhood of the Ovimbundu. e.g. the Lwimbi and the "Ganguela proper", have to some extension been affected by the "umbundization" that has taken place in the 20th century, on the borders of the original habitat of the Ovimbundu.
The peoples later called "Ganguela" have been known to the Portuguese since the 17th century, when they became involved in the commercial activities developed by the colonial bridgeheads of Luanda
and Benguela
which existed at that time. On the one hand, many of the slaves bought by the Portuguese from African middlemen come from these people. On the other hand, in the 19th and early 20th century the "Ganguela" peoples furnished wax, honey, ivory and others good for the caravan trade organised by the Ovimbundu for the Portuguese in Benguela.
After the collapse of the caravan trade, the "Ganguela" were for long - in fact until the very end of the colonial period - of little interest for the Portuguese. This is why they were relatively late subjected to a colonial occupation to which they offered near to no serious resistance.
During the few decades of life under colonial rule, their way of life changed less than in most other regions of Angola. As a rule, they were neither the object of systematic missionary work, nor subject to tax levy or the recruitment as paid labour. The only important economic activity developed by the Portuguese in their area was the production of timber, for factories in Angola or in Portugal.
During the anti-colonial war, 1961–1974, and especially during the Civil War in Angola, some of these groups were affected to a greater or lesser degree, although their active involvement was rather limited.
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, but since colonial times the term has been applied to a number of peoples East of the Bié Plateau
Bié Plateau
The Bié Plateau or Central Plateau of Angola is a plateau that occupies most of central Angola. The elevation of the plateau is from 1,520 m to 1,830 m....
. In addition to the Nganguela proper, this ethnographic category includes the Lwena (Luena), the Luvale, the Mbunda, the Lwimbi, the Camachi and others.
All of these people live on subsistence agriculture, on the upbreeding of small animals, and from gathering wild fruit, honey and other eatable items. Each group have their own language, although these are related among themselves. Each groups also has its own social identity
Social identity
A social identity is the portion of an individual's self-concept derived from perceived membership in a relevant social group. As originally formulated by Henri Tajfel and John Turner in the 1970s and 80s, social identity theory introduced the concept of a social identity as a way in which to...
; there exists no overreaching social identity encompassing them all, so that one connot speak of these groups as one people divided into subgroups.
Europeans unfamiliar with the "Ganguela" ethnic groups, but also contemporary urban Angolans often consider them erroneously as "tribes" of the Ovimbundu
Ovimbundu
The Southern Mbundu, now generally called Ovimbundu , are an ethnic group who lives on the Bié Plateau of central Angola and in the coastal strip west of these highlands. As the largest ethnic group in Angola, they make up almost 40 percent of the country's population...
. However, they are in fact quite distinct fom the Ovimbundu, in terms of language, culture, and social identity. It is true that some of them who live in the immediate neighbourhood of the Ovimbundu. e.g. the Lwimbi and the "Ganguela proper", have to some extension been affected by the "umbundization" that has taken place in the 20th century, on the borders of the original habitat of the Ovimbundu.
The peoples later called "Ganguela" have been known to the Portuguese since the 17th century, when they became involved in the commercial activities developed by the colonial bridgeheads of Luanda
Luanda
Luanda, formerly named São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda, is the capital and largest city of Angola. Located on Angola's coast with the Atlantic Ocean, Luanda is both Angola's chief seaport and its administrative center. It has a population of at least 5 million...
and Benguela
Benguela
Benguela is a city in western Angola, south of Luanda, and capital of Benguela Province. It lies on a bay of the same name, in 12° 33’ S., 13° 25’ E...
which existed at that time. On the one hand, many of the slaves bought by the Portuguese from African middlemen come from these people. On the other hand, in the 19th and early 20th century the "Ganguela" peoples furnished wax, honey, ivory and others good for the caravan trade organised by the Ovimbundu for the Portuguese in Benguela.
After the collapse of the caravan trade, the "Ganguela" were for long - in fact until the very end of the colonial period - of little interest for the Portuguese. This is why they were relatively late subjected to a colonial occupation to which they offered near to no serious resistance.
During the few decades of life under colonial rule, their way of life changed less than in most other regions of Angola. As a rule, they were neither the object of systematic missionary work, nor subject to tax levy or the recruitment as paid labour. The only important economic activity developed by the Portuguese in their area was the production of timber, for factories in Angola or in Portugal.
During the anti-colonial war, 1961–1974, and especially during the Civil War in Angola, some of these groups were affected to a greater or lesser degree, although their active involvement was rather limited.