National Arms of Angola

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Total pages in the Angola section : 107

NATIONAL ARMS OF ANGOLA

Official blazon

Origin/meaning

Angola uses the above State logo, adopted in 1975 and changed in 1992. The difference is the removal of the word 'Popular' in the official name of the country.

Colonial arms

In June 1932 the first arms for the Portuguese colony of Angola were designed and proposed to the Ministry of Colonies. The arms follow a centralised pattern with a bordure with the castle of Portugal and a cross as used by the Portuguese discoverers. For each province a separate symbol was used as the main charge. For Angola a pelican in her piety was chosen. The reason thereof is not known. These arms were, as far as I know, never officially adopted and replaced in 1935.

The proposal from 1932

On May 8 1935 the then Portuguese colony received its first arms, again based on the same structure as all for Portuguese colonies. The upper right half and the bottom are identical for all colonies and show the 5 shields of the Portuguese National arms and the waves for the 'overseas' colonies. The upper left half differs between the colonies and for Angola an elephant and a horse. The motto read Portuguese Colony of Angola.

When in 1951 the colony was transformed into a province, the text on the banner was changed. The arms were abandoned at the independence in 1975.