July 1, 2014

Thursday, July 10 Presentation: Kayaking the Kwanza

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Kayaking the Kwanza River, Angola's longest river, which stretches for almost 1000 kilometers from Bie to the Atlantic. Photo courtesy Christian Stolte.

Kayaking the Kwanza River, Angola’s longest river, which stretches for almost 1000 kilometers from Bie to the Atlantic. Photo courtesy Christian Stolte.

“Kayaking the Kwanza“, a recent three day adventure from Muxima to the Atlantic… The Angola Field Group invites you to drift down the Kwanza River, Angola’s biggest river, with ‘the kayak guys’. Take in their travelogue Thursday, July 10th at 7:45 PM at the Viking Club. They will offer kayaking tips for Angola and have on display one of their boats! (Please note our new starting time).

Water taxi, tranquilo. Photo courtesy Christian Stolte.

Water taxi, tranquilo. Photo courtesy Christian Stolte.

Baby alligator. Every year there are reports of humans, especially women and children, dragged into the river by alligators. Courtesy Christian Stolte.

Baby alligator. Every year there are reports of humans, especially women and children, dragged into the river by alligators. Photo courtesy Christian Stolte.

Glistening waters of the Kwanza River hold many secrets. Queen Nzinga's sister was reputedly drowned in the river by the Portuguese for spying in the 1640's. Photo courtesy Christian Stolte.

Glistening waters of the Kwanza River hold many secrets. Queen Nzinga’s sister was reputedly drowned in the river by the Portuguese for spying in the 1640’s. Photo courtesy Christian Stolte.

In addition, we will also be showing some clips of the historic and culturally rich Luandos region, south of the Kwanza River, home of the former Quicama warriors. Field Group members are invited to the annual Festas Populares dos Luandos , a time for those who left Luandos, to come back to the village and enjoy its traditions, September 12, 13, 14. Representative Serafim Quintino will be on hand to register people and answer questions.

Villagers welcoming visitors to the Luandos Festival.

Villagers welcoming visitors to the Luandos Festival. Photo courtesy http://kudisanza.wordpress.com

Everybody is welcome to attend. In close cooperation with the Viking Club, this event is offered free of charge. Beverages and snacks are sold, coupons must be purchased. The Viking Bar opens at 7:15 PM. The location is: main floor Edificio Maianga, Rua Marien Nguabi, No 118, Maianga, across from Panela de Barro restaurant. You can download a map showing the location of the Viking Club at angolafieldgroup.com/find-us

For Sale: Wild honey and artisanal peanut butter from the Mutti Farm in Moxico. Handwoven baskets from the Zambezi Women´s Cooperative. Natural medicine including Artemesia Tea from ANAMED in Bie. Books about Angola.

Area known as Luandos, located just outside the southeast zone of Quicama National Park.

Area known as Luandos, located just outside the southeast corner of Quicama National Park. Map courtesy http://kudisanza.wordpress.com – click map to enlarge.

 

August 24, 2013

September 13-15 Field Trip: Spend a weekend in a traditional African Village

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Road from Libolo to Luandos.

Road from Libolo to Luandos.

Spend a weekend in a traditional African Village – September 13, 14, 15. For the past ten years the Angola Field Group has been invited to Festas Populares dos Luandos which takes place in a village located outside the southeast corner of Quicama National Park. It is an annual homecoming for villagers who have migrated to the city. You will celebrate their culture with dance, theatre and other activities. Participants will meet in Catete on Friday at 7:30AM. To get to the village one must continue on the main road southeast to Dondo, about 180 km, and then 30 km south of Dondo at Libolo one must head west and drive off-road for about 60 km. Four-wheel drive vehicle necessary. Estimated arrival time at Luandos is 4:00PM, in time to be welcomed officially with a palm wine ceremony. Saturday morning there is a collective wedding that participants are invited to attend and throughout the day there will be cultural activities.

Experience life in a traditional African village. Photo courtesy Rolly Villanueva. Experience life in a traditional African village. Photo courtesy Rolly Villanueva.

Experience life in a traditional African village. Photo courtesy Rolly Villanueva.

Fee for participation is 150usd/person for the whole weekend. This includes dinner on Friday, breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. All local foods are prepared by the Woman’s Cooperative. It also includes accommodation which may be either in a local family’s house, or at Ganga Lodge (still in construction but some parts are finished), or the use of the camp ground for those who have their own tent. There are a few tents available. Whether you camp or stay in a home, the price is the same. Accommodation includes fresh water for bathing. Take your own bedding and mosquito net and extra liquids although water is provided with meals plus 1.5 litre bottle per day. Take lunch and snacks for Friday and for your return trip.

Women's cooperative joins forces to prepare local dishes such as the local kubulu bean dish 4. Baobob trees used to serve as water reservoirs, their location kept secret from other tribes

Women’s cooperative joins forces to prepare local dishes such as the local kubulu bean dish.

Depart for Luanda Sunday, 15th September, after breakfast. To sign up for this trip or if you have further questions, please email Serafim Quintino at: serafimquintino@yahoo.com or phone him at 917-823464.

Baobob trees used to serve as water reservoirs, their location kept secret from other tribes.

Baobob trees used to serve as water reservoirs, their location kept secret from other tribes.

This trip is not organized by the Angola Field Group but it comes highly recommended by previous members who participated.

Feared by the Portuguese who claimed they were headhunters, the Quicama people revered their hunters and buried them on hilltops.

Feared by the Portuguese who claimed they were headhunters, the Quicama people revered their hunters and buried them on hilltops.

 

September 1, 2011

September 9 to 11 Field Group: Festa dos Luandos

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Field Group participant tries his hand at pounding corn. Devegar! (Slower!)

Check out previous Angola Field Group trips to Luandos on our YouTube Channel! Click HERE to go to our YouTube Channel.

The Angola Field Group has been invited once again to participate in the Festa dos Luandos, September 9, 10, and 11. This is a great opportunity to experience firsthand what life is like in an African village. Situated about 5 hours southeast of Luanda,  just outside the borders of Quicama National Park, participants can choose to camp in the woods near the village or stay in a traditional hut with a family. Some of the events you will be part of include thrashing the bean harvest, collecting and tasting freshly tapped palm wine, and participating in the dances of Luandos. There will be a chance for birdwatching also. A fee of $150 usd covers accommodation and meals which will be prepared by the cooperative of local women. 

This is not an Angola Field Group trip. To sign up or for more information call Serafim at 917- 823 464, or email: serafimquintino@yahoo.com.

Deadline to sign up is Wednesday, September 7th. Departure will be September 9, Friday morning, meeting at the town of Catete at 7:00 AM. Check with Serafim for details. Departure from Luandos to return back to Luanda will be Sunday morning about 8:00 AM.

The people of Luandos are from the Quicama tribe; these are sellers (vendedoras) of the Quicama people.

 

August 18, 2010

Read Pedro Vaz Pinto’s latest report from Cangandala on our Giant Sable page

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… “It’s a fact: the hybrids are capable of breeding!”

 

Visit our Giant Sable page to read Biologist Pedro Vaz Pinto’s latest news updates with photos from Cangandala Park, in English and Portuguese. Also, the latest article  ‘Angola’s Giant Sable Makes A Triumphant Comeback’  in the Fall 2010 issue of SWARA, the East African Wildlife Society’s Journal.

 

September 3, 2009

Field trip to the remote village of Luandos

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If you are going on this field trip you must attend a brief orientation on Thursday September 3 at the Viking Club at 8:30 pm with some members of Luandos village who will not only answer all your questions, but also explain further about their community’s festivities which will be ongoing during the September 11th weekend, celebrating the ‘week of reconciliation’, when former residents of Luandos return ‘home’ and reconcile themselves with their traditional culture.

womens-coop

The Women’s Co-operative of Luandos enjoys cooking traditional foods including a variety of locally grown beans not available elsewhere.

water-reservoir
The greater part of  Quissama country is barren with few sources of water except on the banks of the Kwanza and Longa rivers. Traditionally the Quissama people hollowed out baobab trees to use as reservoirs for the rain-water falling in the wet season. The locations of these reservoirs were kept secret.
sacred-burial In the past, the few men revered as great hunters, were intered in stone sepulchers built on sacred hilltops.
Luandos-boy Luandos provides primary education for their children but it’s a struggle to find teachers willing to live in a remote Angolan village.

Luandos-road Field trip participants on road to Luandos. During the rainy season the village is completely isolated since the roads become impassable.