Maria Haller

Maria de Jesus Haller (1923 – 18 October 2006), was Angola's first female ambassador. She participated in Angola's struggle for independence from its colonial power, Portugal, she was a teacher, a journalist and a writer.

Biography She was born in Angola as Maria de Jesus Nunes Da Silva in 1923, the daughter of a 12-year-old plantation worker who had been raped by the plantation owner. When Maria was three, her father sent her to be raised in his native Portugal. She faced sexism in this role, with Egyptian officials denying her access to radio stations until she and Agostinho Neto threatened to leave Egypt.

After 13 years of war, Angola gained its independence on 11 November 1975, with Agostinho Neto as its first president. In 1978, Haller became Angola's first female ambassador and was sent to Stockholm to represent her country in the Kingdom of Sweden. She later became director of the Asia and Oceania Department in Angola's Ministry of External Relations.

Haller died on 18 October 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland, after a prolonged illness. Her funeral was held in Angola.

Works (anthology of children's stories)