Paper short abstract:

This paper analyzes the cultural policies in Angola through a historical perspective. It is argued that, since the end of Angolan civil war, the government has adopted a pragmatic posture concerning culture, subjecting its cultural policies to national reconciliation and socio-economic development goals.

Paper long abstract:

This paper analyzes the evolution of Angolan cultural policies in a historical perspective. The analysis is divided in three distinct moments. The first moment consists in the independence context, the second corresponds to the civil war years and the last moment comprises the years following the end of the war.

This work shows that, in the first two moments analyzed, the cultural policies in Angola suffered from different restrictions - mainly due to the eminent fear of national disintegration - which led to the denial of the county's cultural diversity. In such moments, it is possible to note that Angola adopted a defensive attitude towards cultural issues.

However, in the years after the end of Angolan civil war, the government has adopted a proactive posture concerning culture. This period comprises the launch of innumerous policies related to culture in the country, including the creation of the Ministry of Culture, in the end of 2002. From this moment on, Angola's government has tried to shape Angola's cultures, aiming national reconciliation and development. In order to do so, the government has shown a pragmatic and instrumental view about culture, launching policies that aim its adaptation to "modernity values" and its commercialization. In this sense, the culture acquires value if it can contribute to national development by generating "wealth and jobs".