The first European contact with the lands of the Angolan plateau dates back to 1627. Portuguese sovereignty began in 1769 with the creation of the Alva Nova fort. The first signs of European settlement came from the Boers, around 1880. Shortly afterwards, settlers from Madeira arrived who, on January 19, 1885, founded the colony of Sá da Bandeira. On September 2, 1901, Sá da Bandeira was elevated to the status of town and became the capital seat of Huíla Province. It only became a city on May 31, 1923, when the Namibe Railway, after overcoming the desert and the mountain range, finally reached the plateau.

The strong presence of colonization means that even today Huíla is considered the “whitest” province of Angola. It should be noted that the strongest colonial presences usually occurred along the coast, making Huíla an exception. Currently, groups of Portuguese origin can be found in Huíla, maintaining their traditions and traces of Madeiran pronunciation. The Nhaneca-Humbe ethno-linguistic family of Bantu culture is well represented in the former province of Huíla, namely the Mumuíla people.

Agriculture was the first objective of Sá da Bandeira, with wheat being the main production. However, cattle quickly became the region’s greatest wealth. The ox is still today a symbol of wealth. When transport became mechanized and roads became good access routes, trade became established and industry soon followed. Tanneries and milling industries took the lead. Metallurgy, footwear, lard, sausage production, ceramics, timber and soft drinks followed in importance. The economy of Lubango today is mainly based on the agriculture of cereals, fruits and vegetables. It also has some manufacturing industries specialized in food packaging.

Located approximately 1,790 meters above sea level, Lubango is the highest city in Angola. It has an Oceanic or Tropical Highland climate (Cwb) as a result of its altitude, which modifies it. During the day the climate is moderately warm, but at night temperatures are considerably lower. With an average annual temperature of 18°C, it is probably the city with the mildest and most temperate climate in Angola. Annually, extremes from 1°C to 34°C are common. June and July are the coldest months, with occasional frost. The heaviest rains generally occur between December and March, while the hottest months are September, October and November. In high-altitude areas such as the Serra da Leba and Serra da Chela, temperatures can drop sharply from 10 to -5 degrees during the night.