Carnival 2026 Parade Sees Debut of Two New Groups in Luanda

Luanda: Two debuts mark the parade of the adult Class B Carnival in the Angolan capital this Sunday on Luanda's Nova Marginal. These are the groups Unio Jovens Recreativo da Mabunda, from the municipality of Samba, winner of the qualifying play-off for the Luanda Carnival, and Geraço do Cazenga, second place in the same competition. According to Angola Press News Agency, the Unio Jovens Recreativo da Mabunda, founded on March 20, 2025, in the coastal area of the Camuxiba neighborhood, is primarily composed of former members of the 10 de Dezembro carnival group. The group is led by Francisco Pimentel and showcases the dance and song styles known as semba. The Geraço do Cazenga group, also founded in 2025, will be performing the Semba dance style on the new waterfront. In the 2025 edition, the Unio Sagrada Esperança group from Rangel won the competition with 846 points, while Unio Juventude do Kapalanga and Kazukuta do Sambizanga finished in second and third place, respectively. The parade order for adult C lass B includes a variety of groups, all performing the traditional semba dance style, except for the Cazenga Star Kazukuta Union, which will showcase Kazukuta. The list starts with Mabunda Recreational Union from Samba and continues with groups such as August 28th Union and Kilamba Kiaxi Youth Union, among others. Each group brings its unique flair to the cultural celebration, contributing to the rich tapestry of Angolan carnival traditions.