UARU News · Edition 17 · November 2025
A community in motion: leadership, memory and the future of UARU in the United Kingdom
Edition 17 of UARU News brings together some of the most significant
moments of this year for the Angolan community in the United Kingdom: the confirmation
of Clemente Chiquete as president of the Union of Angolans in the UK,
the celebration of 50 years of Angola’s independence in London, the
democratic process that established 28 July as the Day of the Angolan Community
in the UK, and the community’s participation in the
Remembrance Day ceremonies in Harrow.
Taken together, these events tell a single story: that of a diaspora that has learned
to organise itself, defend its voice and build a shared future, honouring the past
while looking with hope towards the next generations.
Extraordinary assembly confirms continuity of Clemente Chiquete
On Saturday, 11 October 2025, UARU members gathered for an extraordinary
assembly at 55 Willington Road, in London. From early afternoon until the end of the
day, men and women of different ages filled the hall with one clear purpose:
to decide, democratically, who should lead the next stage of the organisation.
The vote confirmed the continuity of Clemente Chiquete as president
of the Union of Angolans in the United Kingdom. The result was more than an
administrative choice; it was a demonstration of trust in the path of a leadership
that has sought to balance transparency, social inclusion and engagement
with the younger generation.
In his address, the president acknowledged mistakes, but emphasised the progress
already made. He highlighted as a priority a stronger connection with young
people: working alongside them, listening to their ideas and creating safe
spaces for participation. The message was welcomed with applause and renewed the
collective commitment to making UARU a truly open home, where different opinions
can coexist without breaking unity.
50 years of independence: Angola celebrated in the heart of London
A few days later the emotions moved to a vibrant hall in central London, where around
240 members of the community and friends of Angola gathered to celebrate
50 years of independence. The occasion was far more than a historic
anniversary; it was a reunion with memory, culture and the homesickness felt by those
who are building their lives far from the land where they were born.
Inside the hall, colourful fabrics, familiar smells and drums
transformed the London cold into a fragment of Luanda, Benguela, Huambo and so many
other cities. The presence of Ambassador José Patrício added solemnity
to an evening marked by songs, traditional rhythms and moments of shared emotion that
recalled the country which, half a century ago, won its freedom.
Among the many traditional outfits presented, one in particular caught everyone’s eye.
It combined elements of the Lunda and Bakongo cultures:
a skirt made of printed fabrics such as mulele ua jiponda, mulele ua xaxi
and mulele ua tandu, adorned with beads and intense colours. The posture of
the woman wearing it – confident, calm and deeply rooted – turned the moment into a
visual statement of belonging and resilience.
The celebration was not just about aesthetics; it was also educational.
Every outfit, every song and each conversation reminded us that Angolan
culture is not a souvenir from the past, but a living force that continues
to inspire, unite and educate both those who live in Angola and those who
are shaping their story in the diaspora.
28 July: a new Day of the Angolan Community in the UK
If the 50th independence celebration spoke to the heart, the process that established
28 July as the Day of the Angolan Community in the United Kingdom spoke
to the mind and to our sense of collective responsibility. On a rainy day, the community
organised the largest democratic exercise ever seen in the Angolan diaspora:
1,144 participants, of whom 1,100 voted online and 44 in person.
The choice of 28 July, with 53.13% of the votes, reflects the desire to
celebrate Angolan identity in an open, fair and participatory way. The president of
the voting desk, Amândio Duarte, highlighted that the date recovers the
pride of being Angolan and sets out a model of community governance that can inspire
other African diasporas.
Observers from Cabo Verde and Mozambique were also present, reinforcing the broader
African dimension of the moment. As one participant put it, the experience served as
a “lighthouse” for other migrant communities, showing that
participatory democracy strengthens bonds and creates a real sense of belonging.
At the end of the day, between applause and tears, the words of
Anastácio da Cruz summed up the feeling in the room:
“The ghetto won because we chose hope over division.” From now on,
28 July will be dedicated to debates about cultural identity, performances
of Angolan music and educational activities for young people – a yearly
ritual of affirmation for the community.
Remembrance Day in Harrow: memory, sacrifice and inclusion
The participation of the Angolan community in Remembrance Day in Harrow
brought another important layer to this edition: a reflection on the place of minorities
in the history of the United Kingdom. Far from the Cenotaph in Westminster, local
ceremonies like the one in Harrow strengthen social cohesion and recall the contribution
of millions of people from former colonies and from across the Commonwealth.
In Harrow, one of the most emotional moments was the laying of a wreath by the
Mayor, in memory of the soldiers who lost their lives in conflict.
This gesture, repeated in towns and cities across the country, symbolises the nation’s
gratitude to all those who served – regardless of their origin or skin colour.
For the Angolan community, this day is also a call to reflection.
By taking part in the ceremonies, the diaspora claims its place in the British
narrative and reminds us that the story of migration is also a story of service,
sacrifice and defence of democracy. It is a powerful message for younger
generations, who learn that Angolan identity can walk hand in hand with civic
responsibility in the country they now call home.
How was this Angolan community in the UK built?
The final part of this edition looks back and asks: how did we get here?
The answer runs through neighbourhoods such as Tottenham, Brixton, Paddington and
Wembley, which in the 1980s became genuine places of refuge for those fleeing war
or seeking better opportunities.
Tottenham was the territory of everyday survival, with shared houses and rooms
that became trenches against loneliness. Brixton, with its African and Caribbean
pulse, turned into the cultural heart where the diaspora learned to share both
pain and achievement. Paddington became a family backyard – the arrival point for
many asylum seekers and the birthplace of the first Angolan sports teams. Wembley,
finally, symbolised victory: every document obtained was celebrated as if someone
had scored in a packed stadium.
The following decades were marked by difficulties with asylum procedures, economic
uncertainty and delays in benefits. But they were also years of
creativity and solidarity: football clubs, associations, places of
worship and cultural initiatives emerged, shaping the community “like clay in the
hands of a potter”.
From 1997 onwards, changes to migration policy were a turning point. With new
opportunities to work, study and move more freely, the Angolan community stopped
being almost invisible and became an active part of London’s landscape, contributing
in many areas of knowledge, culture and the economy.
From memory to action: what this edition tells us about the future
Seen together, the stories in this edition of UARU News show a community that has
learned to participate, celebrate and question. The continuity of a
leadership chosen in assembly, the independence celebration, the democratic process
that created the 28 July Community Day and the presence at Remembrance Day in Harrow
all point in the same direction: building a mature community, aware of its history
and determined to be the protagonist of its own future.
The challenge now is to turn these moments into long-term commitments: keeping
participation in assemblies alive, involving young people in every decision,
using 28 July as a platform for cultural and civic education, and strengthening
the community’s presence in public discussions that shape the United Kingdom.
For those who want to explore each of these stories in more detail, the full
edition is available as a PDF.