African Sociological Review, 10, (1), 2006, pp. 98-101.

Joo Baptista Lukombo Nzatuzola

The State of Sociology in Angola

1. Colonial evolution Sociology as a discipline began to be taught at universities in Portugal after 1974 with the end of Salazars fascist system. Meanwhile in the former colonies, the situation was no better. In contrast with the former French and English colonies, the transfer of power had been discussed with national liberation organisations, specifically PAIGC in Guinea-Bissau, FRELIMO in Mozambique, and in the Angola with the three liberation movements, namely MPLA, UNITA, and FNLA. The Angolan process was more complicated and complex than in the other territories. However, in each, the one-party system was the government system. Angola and Mozambique were severely affected by internal conflicts with negative social and economic consequences. During the colonial era the Junta de Investigaes do Ultramar as well the Instituto de Investigaes Cientficas de Angola published a number of studies and monographs in social science, but more ethnological and anthropological than sociological, and at times for colonial purposes. Some names could be cited like Mesquitela Lima, Jos Redinha, Ildio de Amaral, Carlos Extemann, and Ramiro Ladeiro Monteiro. Graduate studies allowed the teaching of some social science courses, particularly in the Letters and Arts Faculty in Lubango, and the Faculty of Economy and Law in Luanda. 2. The post-independence situation

After the independence in November 1975 the situation did not really improve. The school of the Party promoted social science studies, which were in fact mainly influenced by Marxist-Leninist ideology. In beginning of 1980 the Arts and Letters Faculty in Lubango has been transformed into ISCED, the High Institute for Educational Sciences, with a similar institution in Luanda in 1988. But no sociology degrees were awarded, although at least some classes and lessons were given and included as modules in programmes. Meanwhile the Culture Secretary of State promoted initiatives in the social sciences, for example, the national laboratory of anthropology devoted archaeological research to the Angolan Iron Age societies, but with close ties to the National Anthropology Museum. The National Centre of Documentation and Historical Investigation (CNDIH), afterwards transformed into the National Historical Archive, alongside historical documentation, conservation and management, carried out some research of interest in social science.

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It is important to point out that during this period various papers and texts of interest to social science and sociology in particular were presented; for example, during the first national culture symposium held in Luanda from 1 to 6 October 1984, and also the colloquium on the cultural dimension of development from 10-16 September 1989. In 1991 an Angola Working Group was created in conjunction with CODESRIA; and issued three publications from 1991 to 1992. Thereafter the initiative seems to have lapsed, perhaps due to the difficult post-war interval. In 1993, the AASA an acronym in Portuguese for the Angolan Association of Sociologists and Anthropologists was established with the aim of promoting scientific and cultural initiatives in social science, as well as publishing a review Ngola, of which only one issue saw the light of day. In September 20003, SAS the Angolan Society of Sociology (SAS), with almost the same aims as AASA but without anthropologists, was established, composed of sociologists as well other social scientists with sociological interests. According to Fernando Pacheco, in an analysis in 1991 on scientific investigation in Angola, the post-independence situation was conditioned by three determinant factors: (i) The exodus of Portuguese scientific personnel, who had abandoned Angola during the period that antedated independence and were never replaced, either in quality or in quantity. (ii) The general lack of resources allocated to an activity that had not been seen as a priority in a country almost destroyed by war. (iii) The lack of adequate research into national politics and society. 2.1. Main Features of Sociology during the First Republic After independence sociology was basically excluded from institutions of knowledge. Rather the emphasis was on the ideology of Marxism-Leninism. The ideology failed to gain significant followers or political leaders, and did not contribute to the development of Angola. Thus personnel in sociology taught historical materialism, with a monopoly in social science basically of MarxismLeninism ideology. This was an imported intellectual influence; and was rather seen as a philosophy for Angolan society. There was a lack of scientific research partly due to the influence of historical materialism. Thus social science did not succeed in deepening knowledge and culture studies in Angola. Many staff were from fields other than true social science. Indeed there were some studies arising out of individual initiatives, but they were not always seen as in the interest of the partys rule and views. There were however a number of social, artistic and literary works during the First Republic with a marked sensitivity to the social dimension of literature, with the priority objective of establishing an authentic Angolan literature.

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Among a wide variety of works in literature from Angolan writers one can refer to texts with social context that merit a sociological reading: like Sagrada Esperana (Sacred Hope) written by Agostinho Neto the former Angolan president, Dizanga dia Muenhu by Boaventura Cardoso; Os discursos do Mestre Tamoda, by Uanyenga Xitu; Quem me dera ser Onda by Manuel Rui; and Maiombe by Pepetela (Luiz J. Manuel da Costa; NGOLA; revista de estudos sociais janeiro-dezembro 1997, vol. 1, no. 1). 3. National identity and sociology

Rather than being seen as a rationalising political ideology or a programme to guide it, nationalism is a cultural, social and historical phenomenon. The liberation movement as the negation by negation, can only be authentic when a basis has arisen for a proper identity, and community differentiation. The trend that we could call nationalist or revolutionary is a requirement that depends on solidarity with the collective or community identity. The Angolan national identity is related to its colonial experience, colonialism, the post-colonial and the experience since independence. 4. Scientific knowledge priorities and scientific investigation

Perhaps given its function to consolidate national independence around modern values and through Marxism-Leninism, the University Agostinho Neto as a scientific knowledge institution has given priority to courses and disciplines related to Sciences, Medicine, Law, Economy, and Engineering. As is clear, the concern of the one-party rule in the First Republic was to produce lawyers, economists, engineers. There was little space for social sciences such as sociology, anthropology, and political science. Social science was basically confined to the Partys school close to the ruling MPLA where MarxismLeninism was taught by foreigners teachers mainly from the former socialist Eastern bloc, Russia and Cuba. During this period sociology was almost an unknown science. Sociologists with few exceptions were not engaged in sociology, but were rather involved in technical duties in administrative institutions as well as the private or informal sector. They were very restricted, working in professional isolation and mutually anonymous. 5. From 1992 with the Second Republic: what position for sociology?

The new Angolan constitution, providing for democratic multi-party government after 1991, marked a major change for Angolan academics. There developed institutions with space for scientific research and teaching as well professional promotion. At ISCED a sociology option was introduced, although with an educational training content.

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As already mentioned, there was the formation of professional sociology association, the SAS, in September 2003. In the same year, a Letters and Social Sciences Faculty, with degrees in sociology, was established. Conclusion Most research activity at institutions in the post-war period was characterised by the absence of clear rules and by planned political material. In general, there has been an attempt to preserve the existing inheritance, threatened by the consequences of the conflict, and also by the limited horizons of political leaders. In some cases, a few studies were carried out and edited, but some were not published since they did not conform to the partys rule and development priorities. The government in general and specific Ministries do not prioritise social scientific research and study in their political strategies and budgets. The result of this situation has been difficulties, even failures and a lack of trust, when launching development projects, or devising crucial policy decisions. There are some individual initiatives inside the country as well as abroad, but they are not usually taken into account due to lack of government interest or other political considerations. Our scientific culture, even with the one public university and few private institutions, is too limited and particularly concentrated in Luanda. Many social scientists are unwillingly forced to worry about finding solutions to their daily problems and lack of resources; and do not have enough time to devote to research. The clientelism of the ruling party and traffic in influence suffocate individual initiative and stultify any personal creativity among social scientists, who are seen as not politically reliable. There is a gap between the intention to promote sociology, even in the Science and Technology ministry, and the concrete actions that eventuate. In general, surveys, case studies and so on are often funded by institutions of the United Nations and by international NGOs. Few studies are generated from the national authorities, although mention can be made of some initiatives from INE, the national institute of statistics related to the Planning Ministry. The kind of documents issued by Ministries are in general annual reports, or compilations of statistics, at times lacking rigour in questioning, criticism and reliable data production. References
Ciencias Sociais Em frica; Alguns projectos de Investigao, Dakar, CODESRIA, 1992. NGOLA: Revista de Estudos Sociais, Associao de Antroplogos e Socilogos, Janeiro-Dezembro, 1997, vol. 1, no. 1. Pacheco, Fernando, As cincias sociais em Angola: Ponto de situao in Ngola, Revista de Estudos Sociais, Janeiro-Dezembro, 1997, vol. I, no. 1 (AASA).