Luanda - The programme of celebrations for Luanda's 448th anniversary kicked off on Monday with a cultural event in the Independence Square.
The city celebrates its anniversary on 25 January.
The event is organised by the Luanda Municipal Administration and includes 33 activities with cultural and social events aiming to involve Luanda´s residents.
The event is organised by the Luanda Municipal Administration and includes 33 activities with cultural and social events aimed at involving the people of Luanda.
Speaking to the press, the administrator of the municipality of Luanda, Milca Caquesse, said that there will be football matches between the neighbourhoods, art, culture and health fairs in public and public schools, a cooking competition, an art exhibition and a musical show.
With free admission, the event also served to celebrate National Culture Day, marked on 8 January.
The event included a theatre show by the Oásis group, music performance by Aidiny Diogo, Joel Tuka, Obadias Correia, Duo Canhoto and Dom Caetano, a poem presentation by poet Paulo Tatório, as well as a dance show by Bailado Kupolo Njila.
Milca Caquesse said that given the municipality has cultural potential in the visual arts, music, dance and other cultural areas, the date had to be well celebrated.
National Culture Day was established in November 1986, seven years before the speech given by the first Angolan President and founder of the nation, António Agostinho Neto, on January, 8, 1979 on the occasion of the inauguration of the governing bodies of the Union of Angolan Writers (UEA).
During the event, the late Angolan nationalist Rui Mingas was honoured by musicians Joel Tuka and Obadias Correira, singing his songs.
To Milca Caquesse, Rui Mingas was a man of culture and diplomacy who played a crucial role in the history of the Angolan people.
"That's why we're honouring him for all his achievements in favour of the country and Angolans," she said.
Present at the honouring ceremony, the second secretary of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) in Luanda, Ermelindo Pereira, sent his condolences to the bereaved family for the physical passing of Rui Mingas, whose achievements will always be remembered by the party.
He said that he is a personality that Angola will never forget, not only for having written the national antem, but also for the other contributions he has made to various sectors.
Born on May 12, 1938, he was a sportsman, singer, song writer, diplomat,
businessman, deputy (member of parliament), former Secretary of State for Sports, former Angolan ambassador to Portugal and Deputy Minister of Culture.
Located on the west coast of Africa, Luanda is the capital of Angola and was founded on 25 January 1576 by the Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novais, under the name "São Paulo de Assunção de Loanda".
SJ/OHA/MRA/jmc
