Luanda: from ‘children don’t talk politics’ to ‘I want to be a politician’

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of citizenship concepts in Angola, spanning from the colonial era to the present day, highlighting significant political and social transformations. During the colonial period, the Statute of the Indigenous institutionalised hierarchical citizenship, separating assimilated citizens from indigenous populations. After independence, the First Republic established "monitored citizenship," characterised by political repression and social exclusion. In the Second Republic, tentative steps toward liberalisation introduced the notion of "low-intensity citizenship," marked by emerging freedoms alongside lingering mechanisms of control. Today, persistent social stratification manifests in the discourse of the "ordinary citizen" versus the "special citizen," reflecting entrenched structural inequalities. The article stresses that while citizenship is ideally a universal right, it remains heavily shaped by political and economic power dynamics in Angola. Employing a critical perspective, the study argues that citizenship hierarchies result in social exclusion and restricted civic participation, underscoring the need for continuous efforts to transform the public sphere and expand democratic rights.