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How Portugal Ruled Angola for 500 Years

Lost History Files

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Welcome back to Lost History Files.

Portugal’s involvement in Angola began with exploration and diplomacy, but gradually developed into one of the longest European imperial presences in Africa. Yet Portuguese authority was never as straightforward—or as complete—as the passage of nearly five centuries might suggest.

This video traces Angola’s story from the powerful kingdoms of Kongo and Ndongo to the foundation of Luanda, the Atlantic slave trade, Queen Nzinga’s resistance and Portugal’s eventual expansion into the interior. It also explores Salazar’s attempt to make Angola an integral part of Portugal, the outbreak of armed struggle and the turbulent withdrawal that preceded independence in 1975. How did Portugal maintain its position for so long, and what remains of that complex relationship today?

Outro music: J.S. Bach, Ouverture No. 2 En Si Mineur, BWV 1067. Sourced from Musopen (Public Domain 1.0 licence). Excerpt selected and gently faded.

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20 Comments

@jennylea8687 3 days ago Pinned

I find this longer view of history totally fascinating. Thank you Dr. Philip.

@OneBostonJournal 21 hours ago

This was fascinating and very educational. Portuguese colonial history is not well known in places like Kenya. But I do recall as young boy, shortly before I moved to America, hearing a lot about the Angolan civil war (MPLA, FNLA and UNITA). But the Carnation Revolution itself is new to me. I was also obviously familiar with Angola being a major slave source for Brazil. I wonder how the Carnation Revolution affected politics in Brazil. This is probably a big topic. You have given me pointers that I can use to google for more information. Thanks for sharing!

@YvonneC-pvc 3 days ago

Very interesting! I have learned something new about Angola’s History
Thank you!

@joanstewart6104 3 days ago

Maps change, blood spilled on lands, history always interesting.

@philstanton231 3 days ago

Thank you for this vlog - I learned so much

@pedrorodrigues7285 1 day ago

One thing is certain: the Portuguese of the 15th and 16th centuries were far more competent than the Americans of today, who don't know how to control a strait like Hormuz, something the Portuguese did for 100 years, keeping the Persians away from there.

@laetitiavisagie2632 2 days ago

At the Berlyn Convention in 1885, Portugal tried to lay claim to South Africa but lost to Britain. If Portugal was successful, all of us in SA would be Portuguese-speaking Catholics....

@marelizepinto6209 1 day ago

Watch the film Adio Africa. It will show you the real Angolan story.

@abdulazizclare9545 3 days ago

It looks like after oil lot of Portuguese are going back.

@PedroVanzeller 1 day ago (edited)

Volvidos 51 anos da independência de Angola tudo o que presentemente lá existe ainda foi construído por Portugal, o palácio do governo é tudo mais foi herdado de Portugal. De que lhes valeu a independência se não melhoraram em nada excepto no que de pior poderia acontecer em Angola, a corrupção benefícios indevidos para generais do MPLA e membros do governo. Atendendo a que houve mais movimentos armados Portugal nunca deveria ter entregue Angola ao MPLA sem que houvesse um referendo à população.......

@nicolaasstempels8207 3 days ago

great post.
Note that half of all slaves brought to the New World (mainly Brazil) were brought by the Portugese.
What is the connection with Bach's concertos near the end?

@gordon-n6s 3 days ago

(American Oct. 2026) What is truly astounding is that despite many years of colonial wars for independence which was ultimately granted once the Portuguese dictatorship ended in 1974 local tribal civil wars broke out between competing factions which went on for several more years until one of them ultimately prevailed. By this time oil reserves had been discovered and substantial revenues were flowing into the new Republic. But rather than spend all the money domestically and possibly benefiting breakaway groups the Angola government decided to send some of it back to PORTUGAL despirately trying to rebuild with few natural resources!

@clementgavi7290 7 hours ago (edited)

The only thing I will say is that I ruled Angola for 500 years, Angola wouldn't be among the poorest, underdeveloped, etc., the spirit that dwells in me would have revealed in a pratical wats its wonders.

@patMen-s9p 19 hours ago

The Portuguese never left angola,this is just on the paper there are 300.000 Portuguese living in angola to this day,and there is also a significant number of angolans living in Portugal.a thrue angolan,and a thrue Portuguese don’t have any issue the two(2)people learned to accept each other

@patMen-s9p 19 hours ago

When people comment it’s important to get the facts right.the short time that the Dutch,were trying to conquer angola,they built long bridges across the rives,and few other constructions specially in capital luanda.but it seems that when comes to angolan past,everyone is just focus on Portuguese,and either don’t have knowledge,or forget about the presence of Dutch in angola,when Portugal was been colonised by Spain

@wranglercycling6420 1 day ago

14:42 that red flag and start says it all..!!🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️ like Brasil they will never develop….

@nicolaasstempels8207 3 days ago

Note that the Dutch fought for their independence from Spain too around that time.
One would expect a natural alliance, but I guess religion was ,as usual, a spoiler.

@FontenelleMoreau 14 hours ago

Title is misleading, Portugal did not rule Angola for 500 years.

@jaimemendes48g 2 days ago

The portuguese saved southern africa from being converted to islam as happened in west and east africa.

@BurkieMurray-hb1vb 1 day ago

Portugal fataly messed up on letting go on their colonies.. Portugal buildup ... They made things great and workable ... They made nothing into possibility ... Once they left great turned back to noting ...