A brief history of Kizomba

1975: Angolan Independence and Civil War

In 1975, Angola gained independence from Portugal after nearly 500 years of colonial rule. But by then, three rival political movements—MPLA, FNLA, and UNITA—had emerged, and Portugal’s poorly managed transition left them in conflict. 

On November 11, the MPLA secured Luanda and declared itself the government. Civil war broke out almost immediately, embroiling it in a global Cold War struggle, and deeply impacting Angola’s political future and cultural identity.

Many Angolan families, facing a great deal of fear and uncertainty and fleeing conscription, sought refuge in Portugal. According to Portuguese law, any person born in a former Portuguese colony before 1975 was considered a Portuguese citizen, which helped many Angolans assimilate.

1977: May 27 Demonstration and Uprising

On May 27, 1977, a group of young intellectuals and party activists organized a takeover of a local radio station to call people onto the streets of Luanda and pressure President António Agostinho Neto to clean up his government. 

Branded a coup, this attempt resulted in bloodshed. Tens of thousands, including many of the country's most admired musicians were imprisoned, tortured, and killed. 

In the aftermath of this uprising, and amid economic crisis and cultural disruption caused by the civil war, Angola saw a steep decline in music production. Instruments were scarce, and new ones weren’t being imported. It was in this environment that the "King of Kizomba", Eduardo Paím, and his group SOS emerged—one of the first new bands in Luanda.

1980s: The Birth of Kizomba in Luanda

Formed around a local radio station where they had access to instruments, Eduardo Paím and his band SOS began experimenting with new sounds—blending zouk with Angolan rhythms to create a uniquely Angolan sound.

They drew on a mix of influences: 

• Semba: Local Angolan rhythms played with European instruments like the guitar. (1950s-1960s)

• Rumba: A re-Africanized mix of Cuban son and Congolese rhythms. (1920s-1940s)

• Soukous: A brighter, higher tempo evolution of Congolese Rumba. (1960s-1980s)

• Zouk: An upbeat, beachy genre popularized by Guadeloupean band, Kassav. (1980s)

Their music became known as Kizomba, from the Kimbundu word meaning “there’s a party at my house.” 

Kizomba quickly took off as a powerful expression of cultural pride and connection during a time of national hardship. Despite the playful, upbeat feel of the music, early Kizomba lyrics often expressed a deep longing for happier times, family, home, and familiar places.

1990s: A Social Shift

By the late 1980s, Angola abandoned its socialist project and opened the economy to free-market capitalism. Foreign investment—especially from China—poured into the oil sector, enriching the ruling elite while widening the gap between rich and poor. 

Through it all, music remained a voice for the people. Many artists—such as Paulo Flores— continued to call out inequality and corruption, criticizing the ruling elite for putting personal wealth and power above the country's wellbeing.

Kizomba in Portugal

In the cultural vacuum created by the civil war, Angolan immigrants—as well as those from other Portuguese-speaking African (PALOP) countries—yearned for familiar spaces to gather and find peace through community. They began gathering in homes to cook, eat together, and let their children play.

Kizomba music became a medium to discuss the political situation back home, helping Angolan immigrants maintain their African identity and adapt to life in Portugal. From the eldest to the youngest, everyone danced Kizomba.