Africa-Press – Angola. Angolan nationalist and musician Rui Mingas died, this Thursday, in Lisbon (Portugal), at the age of 84, a victim of illness.
One of the authors of the lyrics of the National Anthem of Angola, together with the writer Manuel Rui Monteiro, Rui Mingas actively participated in the process that culminated in the independence of Angola, on November 11, 1975, at the end of almost five centuries of Portuguese colonization.
Distinguished politician, diplomat, businessman and composer, among other skills, Rui Mingas was born on May 12, 1939, having distinguished himself in his youth, in athletics, particularly in the high jump and the 110 meter hurdles in Angola and Portugal.
His political conduct as an active MPLA activist led him to set poems by Angolan nationalists such as Viriato da Cruz, Agostinho Neto, Mário António and António Jacinto to music.
From his recording work, the highlights are “Cantiga por Luciana”, “Poema da farra”, “Makezu”, “Muadiakimi”, “Birin birin”, “Monagambé”, “Adeus à hora da departure” and “Meninos do Huambo”.
Rui Alberto Vieira Dias Rodrigues Mingas was an Angolan singer, composer, diplomat, businessman and politician.
He was a deputy of the MPLA Parliamentary Group, Secretary with the status of Minister of Sports and ambassador of Angola to Portugal.
On July 26, 1995, he was awarded the degree of Grand Cross of the Order of Infante D. Henrique, of Portugal.
In 2002, he formed a business association with Paulo Múrias and the “Minerva Foundation – Culture – Teaching and Scientific Research”.
In brief statements,musician Gari Sinedima considered Rui Mingas one of the mentors of the literary aesthetics that guided “almost the entire course of Angola’s musical and academic culture”.
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
