Lunda
Sul has an area of 77.637 km2, and
four municipalities: Saurimo, Dala, Muconda and Cacolo. The provínce
of Lunda Sul was founded by Decree Law Nr.48/78, of the then
Revolutionary Council which divided Lunda into two provinces, Lunda
Norte and Lunda Sul. In prehistoric times, Cassai Sul was the place
where the emigrants from the Lunda-Tchokwe Empire settled and Zona
Cucumbi, Mona Quimbundo, Sueji and Itengo were the areas where the
first military penetration by the Portuguese took place.
The main economic activities nowadays are agriculture and mineral
extraction. The main foodstuffs are mandioc, com, sweet potato and yam. Other
activities are handicraft, fishing, diamond panning and handicraft.
Climate
The climate is tropical, rainy, warm and humid with rainy and dry seasons,
the average temperature being between 16°C and 23°C.
How to get There
By air
There is a very large airport with runways for all types of aircraft. TAAG;
Air Gemini and Sal fly to this province.
By road
From Luanda, through Malanje and to Saurimo, capital of the province. The
surface of the road is bad, due to the many years of war. However, it is
current1y undergoing repair works.
Population
The Luanda Tchokwe people are mainly found in Lunda Sul, and have rich
historical and cultural traditions present in their songs, folklore and
traditional dances.In the
mukanda, they learn how to dance, to make traps, to fish, hunt and make
handicraft, practical housework and the rhythms of their traditional music.
Most of the population practices subsistence agriculture, the
ethnic groups being the Lunda Tchokwe, Bangalas, Xinge, Minungos, Luvales,
Mbundas, and Balubas, the latter being a mixture of peoples from the regions of
Moxico and Lunda Norte.
Nature Reserves
There is a great variety of species of animals in this province, mainly in
the municipalities of Muconda, Cacola, Dala and Saurimo, where you can
find elephants, golungos, nunces, Red palanca, hippopotamus, lions,
crocodiles, leopards, wild goats, wild cats and serpents such as the boa,
flying snake, surucucu and the spitting cobra. There are also many species
of birds, among these being the vulture, swallows, eagles, storks, herons,
kingfishers, guinea fowl, partridge and wild duck. The forests are thick
and of a luxuriant green, running alongside the rivers or sheltering their
sources. There are savannah with bushes, savannah with trees and dry
forests.
Rivers
The most important rivers of Lunda Sul are the Rivers Mombo, Luachi,
Chicapa, Luachimo, Chiumbe, and Cassai, whose sources are in the
Alto Chicapa area, 1,300 m or more high. Other Rivers are the
Muanguês, Cuango, Luó, Luavuri, Cucumbi and Luzia. Ali of these
rivers flow from south to north and some of them offer excellent
conditions for angling.
Entertainment and leisure
There are waterfalls at Chiumbe, the Rivers Chicapa, Luachimo, Luachi, Chihumbwe,
Samussanda, Chiumbwe in the municipality of Muconda. It is important to visit
the Tourist Centre at Ilha do Rio Chiumbwe (River Chiumbwe Isle) in the
municipality of Dala, the Poligno Florestal on the River Muanguês; and the
municipal swimming pool on the Saurimo. There are also the Lagoons of Luari and
Alto Chicapa, the Mulino Wa Lunga Tourist Complex, on the River Pelengue, the
CaÚIlla landscape and the River Luachimo Tunnel.
Cultural tourism
If you like old buildings, you must visit the former centre of government,
currently the Ministry of Agriculture and Regional Development, built in
1917/18. Other important buildings are the former Residence of the Civil
Servants, the Govemor's House, the CTT building, the Postmaster's House, now
belonging to the delegation of Endiama, all built between 1920 and 1921.
Important churches and religious buildings are Nossa Senhora de Lurdes, built in
1930 and the Catholic Mission (1948).
Mona Quimbundo, Sueji and Itengo are the sites of battles fought
against the Portuguese colonial forces.
The Lundas are as well known for their art as their diamonds
The name “Lunda” refers to a powerful ancient kingdom, also known as
Tchokwe, which straddled what is now northeastern Angola and
southwestern Democratic Republic of Congo. Tchkwe sculpture is
highly popular with collectors – one of the most well known
sculptural forms is O Pensador, a graceful sculpture of a
philosopher resting his head in his hands.
In 1986, the area was divided into Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul. Both
provinces are principally associated with diamonds – the first
recorded discoveries of diamonds in Angola were made here in 1912 –
although they also have rich agricultural soils.
Although Lunda Norte has a healthy diamond sector, the real hub of
gem extraction in north-eastern Angola is the Catoca mine in Lunda
Sul. According to Catoca Managing Director José Ganga Junior, “We
have conducted geological studies to a depth of 600 meters, which
reveal reserves of 130 million carats. “
The Catoca mine, which started operating in 1997, employs 1,400
Angolans, most of whom come from Lunda Sul. Although Catoca is
forging ahead in terms of production, it faces one enormous
challenge. As road and rail networks have been destroyed by the war,
all fuel and other essential supplies have to be flown in by air
from Luanda. Every day, two to three planes fly in with diesel to
run the mines.
Local power generation is obviously a top priority. If investment
were forthcoming, it would be possible to build a hydro-electric
facility on the Chicapa River, which could provide energy to both
Lunda Sul. This would not only improve living standards for the
local population, but also make diamond mining more economically
viable.
