Eating etiquette

Angolans like to entertain guests in their homes rather than eating out. If you are invited to lunch at an Angolan home, dress as you would in a formal business setting; putting an effort with your appearance shows respect for your host.

Food is typically served communally, with the eldest person present serving themselves first from the communal dish. If your host invites you to a second serving, it is customary to decline on the first request. If you are asked again, it is courteous to accept.

The staple cuisine is cassava, a root fruit. It can be ground, baked, or burned to produce alcohol. Funje, a cassava flour porridge eaten with stewed vegetables or fish, is a traditional cuisine. Rice and sweet potatoes are also popular. Most families, however, cannot afford to buy red meat or poultry.

Angolans typically eat from communal bowls in rural regions. The elderly either take care of themselves or are served first. If the last portion is provided, the person should mug and let the host or hostess bid a second and third time before accepting a yes. Men eat for themselves in some groups, while women and children eat for themselves in others.