Africa ยท AO / AGO
Flag of Angola
The Angola flag is a horizontal bicolor of red over black with a yellow emblem in the center: half a cogwheel crossed by a machete, topped by a five-pointed star. It was adopted at independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975.
What the flag of Angola looks like
The flag of Angola is divided into two horizontal bands of equal height, red above and black below. The proportions are 2:3. In the center is a gold-yellow emblem made of three elements: a machete crossed with a half cogwheel, and a five-pointed star above.
The star sits above the two tools. The emblem has been compared to the star, hammer and sickle of the Soviet flag, but it uses a machete and a cogwheel instead. The flag is also shown as the Angola flag emoji ๐ฆ๐ด.
Angola flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#CC092FRGB
204, 9, 47CMYK
0, 96, 77, 20HEX
#000000RGB
0, 0, 0CMYK
0, 0, 0, 100HEX
#FFCB00RGB
255, 203, 0CMYK
0, 20, 100, 0Angola flag meaning and symbolism
The meanings of the flag are set out in the constitution and tie back to the liberation movement behind it:
- Red stands for the blood shed by Angolans during the colonial period, the war of independence and in defense of the country.
- Black stands for the African continent.
- Yellow (gold) is used for the emblem, and it symbolizes the wealth of Angola.
In the emblem, the half cogwheel represents industrial workers and production. The machete stands for the peasants, agriculture and the war of independence. The star represents international solidarity and progress. (The original 1975 constitution used the words "internationalism" and "revolution" for these.)
Many visitors ask why the flag looks communist. The answer is its origin: it was based on the flag of the MPLA (People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola), the country's ruling party since independence. Henrique de Carvalho Santos is credited with the design.
History of the Angola flag
During the colonial period Angola flew the flag of Portugal. The Angolan War of Independence lasted from 1961 to 1974 and ended after the Carnation Revolution in Portugal. At noon on 10 November 1975 the Portuguese flag was lowered in Luanda, and at midnight on 11 November the MPLA proclaimed the independence of the People's Republic of Angola. During the ceremony the new flag, based on the MPLA's flag, was raised.
Parts of the country stayed under the control of other movements, notably UNITA, which proclaimed a rival state the same day and kept flying its own flag in the territory it held through the civil war (1975-2002). After the war ended, a public competition in the early 2000s chose a new flag design with a yellow sun on red, white and blue bands, but it was never adopted amid public disagreement, and the 1975 flag remains the national flag.
Another former Portuguese colony, Mozambique, also became independent from Portugal in 1975. See more on the flags of Africa page.
Angola flag facts
| Country | People's Republic of Angola |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | November 11, 1975 |
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Colors | #CC092F, #000000, #FFCB00 |
| Symbols | cogwheel, five-pointed star, machete |
| Flag emoji | ๐ฆ๐ด |
| Country code | AO, AGO (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Luanda |
| Continent | Africa |
| Population | 36,749,906 |
| Area | 1,246,700 kmยฒ |
| Currency | kwanza |
| National anthem | Angola Avante |
Angola flag: frequently asked questions
Why does the Angola flag have a machete?
The machete stands for the peasants, agriculture and the war of independence.
Why is the Angola flag communist?
It is based on the flag of the MPLA, the party that proclaimed independence in 1975 and has ruled since. The vexillologist Whitney Smith noted that the emblem resembles the star, hammer and sickle of the Soviet flag.
What does the symbol on the Angola flag mean?
The half cogwheel represents industry and workers, the machete represents peasants, agriculture and the war of independence, and the star represents international solidarity and progress.
Which flag has an AK-47 on it?
Angola's flag has a machete, not a gun. The flag that shows an AK-47 is the flag of Mozambique.
What do the colors of the Angola flag mean?
Red stands for the blood shed by Angolans during the colonial period, the war of independence and in defense of the country, black for Africa, and yellow for the country's wealth.
Did Angola redesign its flag?
No. After the civil war ended in 2002, a public competition chose a new design around 2003, but it was never adopted amid public disagreement. The 1975 flag with the machete and half cogwheel remains the national flag.
Is Angola Spanish or Portuguese?
Portuguese. Angola was a Portuguese colony and flew Portugal's flag until independence on 11 November 1975, when the current red and black Angola flag was raised. Its neighbor Mozambique, another former Portuguese colony, also became independent in 1975.
What country's flag is ๐ฆ๐ด?
The ๐ฆ๐ด flag emoji is the flag of Angola. It shows the red-over-black bands with the yellow machete, half cogwheel and star, and on Windows it appears as the letters AO instead of a flag.
