Prince of Diamonds is a project that explores the contrasting worlds of wealth and poverty, documenting the diverse realities shaped by Angola’s diamond trade. Angola is a country not only known for its diamonds but also for its complex history of independence and conflict.
Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975, but this did not bring peace. The subsequent civil war between the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) lasted until 2002, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands.
During this conflict, the diamond trade played a central role. UNITA funded its operations in part through the sale of diamonds, which had a significant impact on the global diamond market and led to international sanctions.
Today, Angola is one of the largest diamond exporters in the world, with major mines like Catoca, which is one of the largest diamond mines globally.
I traveled from the diamond mines in the east of the country to the bustling capital of Luanda, documenting the lives and realities shaped by Angola’s diamond industry along the way.
