Paper short abstract:

By analyzing historical narratives in three significant Angolan monuments constructed since independence, this paper argues that a conflation of the ruling party and the nation excludes large numbers of Angolans and ignores contributions of rival nationalist movements to independence.

Paper long abstract:

Since coming to power in 1975, Angola's MPLA government has constructed monuments to commemorate its victories against foreign intervention and rival nationalist movements. By analyzing the narratives in three Angolan monuments - the Heroínas Monument, the Martyrs of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale Monument, and the Agostinho Neto Monument in Huambo - this paper argues that the dominant narratives conflate the party (MPLA) with the nation and, as a result, ignore the perspectives and memories of fellow Angolans who supported competing nationalist movements.

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