Antonio Agostinho Neto was born in 1922 to a Methodist pastor in Bengo village in Angola.

He worked briefly in the colonial service as a health personnel.

In 1947, he went to Portugal for further studies, joined the Portuguese Democratic students Union and became a profound nationalist.

He was a good writer of critical poems and articles which enlightened the Angolan elites about the Portuguese colonial evils.

He was arrested by the PIDE in 1952 for his nationalistic ideas and completed his medicine course in prison between 1955 - 57.

He qualified as a doctor in 1958. He returned to Angola in 1959.

Under his leadership, the MPLA wrote a petition to Lisbon in 1960 which earned him another arrest.

He was arrested and publically flogged by the Police (Pide). Neto was deported to Cape Verde islands and later to Portugal where he was jailed.

In 1962, he escaped from prison, camouflaged as a trader and moved to Morocco. From there he connected to Zaire where he set up a base for MPLA.

In 1963, the Angolan government was organized in exile in the Congo and by this time, with backing of the Congo, a large part of the northern and eastern Congo had become as battlefield.

He was appointed as the first commander of the FPLA, (Popular Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola), the military wing of the MPLA.

He carried out politicization rallies for his supporters , involved himself in military training and guidance etc.

He gave medical treatment to those who were wounded.

He ordered MPLA attacks on radio stations and police posts.

He looked for external support for MPLA.

He set up bases in Zambia, Tz, Kinshasha, and Hastem Angola

Neto's MPLA won international recognition, thus, Portugal became isolated internationally as well as being threatened militarily by MPLA and other fighting groups.

Due to Neto's effort, the Portuguese gave Angola and independence in 1975.

He became the 1st president of independent Angola.

Neto died in September 1979 while undergoing medical treatment in Moscow. Elected to replace him was Jose Eduardo dos Santos, a relatively young well-trained MPLA man.