"Zungueira"
The "zungueira" trudges, weary,
And goes shouting and bellowing at the top of her lungs:
"Cut-price, cut-price, cut-price on the lemons…"
The "zungueira" trudges, dusty,
And she lowers her goods, lowers her price and gives a discount
(Mateus, n.d.).
Among the many squares in Luanda, Praça do Pombinha, situated in the municipality of Sambizanga, stands out as a place that welcomes hundreds of "zungueiras" every day, creating a bustling market atmosphere (de Carvalho e Azevedo, 2025).
Women are reshaping the way the city is used; their continued presence in urban spaces is a form of resistance. (Telo, 2021, p. 18).
The word "Zungueira" is derived from the verb "zungar", which, in Angola, means to go round or wander from place to place selling goods (de Carvalho e Azevedo, 2025).
The activities of the "Zungueira" involve creating a space for social interaction and the affirmation of female identity within an urban system that often ignores their needs and challenges (de Carvalho and Azevedo, 2025).
Local markets serve as places where essential goods are sold, as well as venues for social gatherings, cultural exchange and social interaction (de Carvalho e Azevedo, 2025).
The informal economy has become a fundamental part of urban life in Luanda, intertwined with the challenges of housing, mobility, employment and access to public spaces (de Carvalho e Azevedo, 2025).
Recognising "Zungueira’s" place in the city is also to recognise the central role of women in contemporary urban life — not merely as users, but as true shapers of space (de Carvalho e Azevedo, 2025).
Any attempt at economic or urban restructuring that ignores this key role played by women risks failing, as it fails to take into account a force that is essential to Luanda’s socio-economic dynamics (Telo, 2021, p. 19).
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