Time

In Angola, the 12- and 24-hour clock are used interchangeably when time is written or spoken of. In terms of a national schedule, businesses open Monday through Friday for four hours in the morning, then shut down for two hours at approximately 12:00 noon. They reopen mid-afternoon then close for the day at 6:00 p.m.. Schedules for stores vary depending on the store. Although most stores open early in the morning, some do not shut down during the day. Most stores stay open until around 8:00 p.m. from Monday through Friday and are open from 9:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Most are closed on Sunday; however, a few stores may open from 10:00 to 5:00 p.m. Schools operate from 7:00 or 7:30 a.m. to 12:30, Monday through Friday.

In Angola, when attending a social gathering at a home, it is permissible to come anywhere from one half hour to one hour late, depending on the sensibilities of the host family. When attending a large party, however, one is free more or less to arrive at any time. For all business and school engagements, punctuality is the rule.