The Plain Muila of Angola live around Kamuviu, on the Huíla Plateau, and are efficient farmers. They belong to the Nyianeka, the ethnolinguistic nation of the plateau. The Last Places team of anthropologists, who have been working in Angola since 2014, have identified four Nyianeka groups: the Handa, the Gambue and two groups of the Muila tribe.
Plain Muila and Mountain Muila
The Plain Muila, who live on the lowlands, decorate themselves more profusely and less uniformly than the Mountain Muila, who inhabit the more mountainous areas and stand out for their horn-shaped hairstyles. This is why we have classified them as a separate group.
Wife of a village soba, showing her social status through her necklaces of beads and sea shells. The rooster feather also indicates her rank.
A traditional aesthetic that is becoming increasingly rare
Working alongside the Plain Muila has allowed us to see how some families still preserve their traditional aesthetic. However, they are fewer and fewer, and young people are increasingly inclined to imitate fashions from outside.
Soba (chief) Antonio of Kamuviu, a veteran of the War of Independence (1961–1975) and the civil war (1975–2002). He works with Last Places to preserve traditional culture among young people and to revive forgotten crafts: pottery, basketry, doll-making and jewellery.
Farmers who still worship the bull god
The older generations still worship the bull god, even though livestock is no longer a key part of their economy. Plain Muila society is undergoing a process of change, owing to the spread of Christian beliefs and the migration of young people to the cities.
Harvested maize field in Plain Muila land.
Traditional headrest, increasingly rare as it is replaced by manufactured pillows.
Granary woven from plant fibres with decorative motifs, kept inside the houses.
Maize granary inside a house.
Bronze rings on the ankle of the first wife of the soba of Kamuviu.
Traditional doll.
Last Tribes and Tribal Heritage: preserving culture in the villages
The Last Tribes project and the NGO Tribal Heritage aim to highlight the value of this unique culture and promote traditional education among the new generations, without giving up the advantages of the modern world. The idea is to find a lasting balance that preserves elements of tribal culture while improving living conditions in traditional villages.
Tourism is an effective and direct tool, which values culture as a precious asset that the tribe should feel proud of.
The first wife of the soba of Kamuviu with a traditional doll she made herself.
Initiated girl with the hairstyle specific to the ceremony.
Hairstyle seen from behind during the initiation ceremony (fico).
Detail of the traditional hairstyle of a woman with children.
Bead necklaces mixed with clay and butter, worn by adult women.
The younger generations are tending to forget the traditional aesthetic, influenced by urban life and the Christian religion.
You can learn more about this people on the Plain Muila page of 101 Last Tribes.
© Photographs by Aníbal Bueno, taken during our trips to Angola.
Discover the tribes of Angola with the book ‘Last Tribes of Angola’
If you would like to learn more about these southern peoples before you travel, you can read Last Tribes of Angola, the result of a joint project by anthropologist Joan Riera and ethno-photographer Aníbal Bueno. Written in English and Spanish (bilingual edition) and illustrated with a wealth of photographs, drawings and maps, the book is a unique visual guide to the most remote tribes of south-west Angola.
Spain and Portugal, including the islands: buy the book from Exlibric
Rest of the world: buy the book on Amazon
Would you like to meet the Plain Muila?
The Plain Muila live around Kamuviu, on the Huíla Plateau, in the south-west of the country. If you would like to travel to Angola, on the destination page you will find our upcoming departures, what to see in the country and useful information to help you prepare.
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