Photos by Frits Eisenloeffel
Journalist Frits Eisenloeffel visited Angola in 1975 and 1976 to witness the transfer of power from the Portuguese to the Angolan liberation movement and the reconstruction of the country. In Luanda he photographed the parades and festivities surrounding the 20th anniversary of the founding of the MPLA, a May day parade and the overthrow of the symbols of the colonial rule: statutes of Portuguese generals, clerics and other notables. He also witnessed the start of the civil war between the political rivals MPLA, FNLA and Unita in April 1975 in Luanda and in 1976 in the South of Angola.
This section shows photos of a textile factory in Luanda, Textang, which was an example of a development project by the new government, but suffered from a shortage of raw materials. Also there are photos of a postponed May Day Demonstration on 22 May, 1975 organized by a pro-MPLA Trade Union. The demonstration was held some days after heavy fighting between MPLA and FNLA to gain power after a vacuum was left by the retreat of the Portuguese colonial power.
This is part of an photo exhibition from the Frits Eisenloeffel collection.
