# Agostinho Neto

_President of Angola (1975-1979)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/agostinho-neto
Last updated: 2026-11-08

> António Agostinho Neto Kilamba was an Angolan communist revolutionary, politician and poet. He served as the first president of Angola from 1975 to 1979, after leading the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) during the war for independence. He led the MPLA during the beginning of the Angolan Civil War, which began in 1975 and lasted until 2002. An author of several books, he is considered Angola's preeminent poet. His birthday is celebrated as National Heroes' Day, a public holiday in Angola.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 17 September 1922 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181665#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Catete ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181665#P19))
- **Died:** 10 September 1979 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181665#P570))
- **Place of death:** Moscow ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181665#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Angola ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181665#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; poet; physician writer; political prisoner; writer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181665#P106))
- **Political party:** People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181665#P102))
- **Education:** University of Coimbra; University of Lisbon ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181665#P69))
- **Positions held:** President of Angola (11 November 1975 – 10 September 1979) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181665#P39))
- **Awards:** Lenin Peace Prize; Order of Lenin; Order of Playa Girón; Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo; Order of Amilcar Cabral 1st Class; National Order of Merit; Order of the Yugoslav Star; Order of the Welwitschia; Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland; Order of Georgi Dimitrov; Amílcar Cabral Medal; Order of Amilcar Cabral; Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181665#P166))

## Questions

**When was Agostinho Neto born?**  
Agostinho Neto was born on 17 September 1922 in Catete.

**What positions has Agostinho Neto held?**  
Positions held by Agostinho Neto include: President of Angola (1975–1979).

**Where did Agostinho Neto study?**  
Agostinho Neto was educated at University of Coimbra, University of Lisbon.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Agostinho Neto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agostinho_Neto) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q181665](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181665) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: President MPLA, heer Neto door Den Uyl ontvangen premier Den Uyl en A Neto (r), Bestanddeelnr 927-8518 (cropped).jpg by Rob Mieremet / Anefo (CC0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:President_MPLA,_heer_Neto_door_Den_Uyl_ontvangen_premier_Den_Uyl_en_A_Neto_(r),_Bestanddeelnr_927-8518_(cropped).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Agostinho Neto, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: President MPLA, heer Neto door Den Uyl ontvangen premier Den Uyl en A Neto (r), Bestanddeelnr 927-8518 (cropped).jpg — Rob Mieremet / Anefo, CC0.

## Cite this page

"Agostinho Neto". DigiNepal. Last updated 8 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/agostinho-neto. Retrieved 11 November 2026.