As outlined in the Constitution of Angola, the red half of the flag signifies bloodshed – during Angola’s colonial period, independence struggle, and in defense of the country. The black half symbolizes Africa. In the central emblem, the gear represents industrial workers and production, the machete represents peasantry, agricultural production and the armed struggle, and the star, shaped like the red star, symbolizes international solidarity and progress. The yellow color of the emblem symbolizes the country’s wealth.

revisionism:

The Constitution of 1975 described the red stripe as symbolizing bloodshed during the colonial period, national liberation and a revolution – and reference to revolution was replaced with “defense of the country” in the constitution of 1992. In other changes of wording between the 1975 and 1992 versions, the star was changed from a symbol of “internationalism” to “international solidarity”, and references to “working class” and “peasant class” were replaced with “workers” and “peasants”