With lyrics and melody that express national pride and the country's diverse cultural heritage, Toto ST's song will be the soundtrack for the celebrations.
According to the singer, quoted by Jornal de Angola, the song was a very big challenge for him as a singer, especially because he mixed different musical styles from the region.
He added that, for him, more than simply earning some money, the important thing was having the opportunity to contribute to a good celebration of the country's 50th anniversary of independence.
"I have said many times in the meetings I have had with some people that the time has come, instead of wanting Angola to do for me, to do (something) for Angola", he said, quoted by Jornal de Angola.
In addition to the song, the 50 years of independence will also feature an official logo.
According to the announcement of the winners, made last Friday, by the Interministerial Commission for the Organization of Commemorative Actions celebrating the 50th anniversary of National Independence, the competition to create the logo was won by the company Ondaka. The competition for the song was won by the company Nakenis.08, made up of artists Toto ST and Rui Policarpio.
It was up to the Secretary of State for Territorial Administration and coordinator of the Project's technical group, Teresa Quivienguele, to announce the winners, in a press conference that took place at the Aníbal de Melo Press Center (CIAM).
On the occasion, Teresa Quivienguele, quoted in a CIAM statement, to which VerAngola had access, praised the winners, who positively met the "proposed requirements", with the winning logo incorporating the number 50, "in reference to the anniversary of the independence, in addition to the colors of the national flag and semiotic elements that represent the historical evolution of Angola and the construction of a prosperous future".
According to the note, the "logo competition process was conducted" by a team of "respected professionals in the areas of culture, graphic arts and communication, and lasted around three months since its announcement in April".
Francisco Quissola, Francisco Longa, Álvaro Maciera, Pedro Chissanga and Manuel Ventura formed the evaluation committee for the public competition to create the logo.
Regarding winning the competition to create the logo, Yara dos Santos, representative of Ondaka, expressed the company's satisfaction for having presented a project made by Angolans, for Angolans and for the benefit of the country.
"Ondaka seeks to show and bring this brand to Angola and that it can, in a way, unify us, and show the entire path that we have had until now", she stated, quoted by Jornal de Angola.
Regarding the song contest process, the person responsible highlighted the "independence of the panel of judges", which was composed of Euclides da Lomba (president of the jury committee), Rosa Roque, Artur Neves, Gaspar Agostinho Neto, Filipe Mukenga and Dodó Miranda.
According to Teresa Quivienguele, the technical group received 81 proposals for the logo and "24 proposals for lyrics and musical arrangements for the song".
The winners received a monetary prize, with the logo being awarded 25 million kwanzas and the song 30 million kwanzas. According to Angop, it was up to the musicians Dodó Miranda and Toto ST, representatives of the companies that won the competition, to receive the symbolic checks.
It should be noted that the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of national independence will start in November this year and run until December 2025.
