The Gabela Akalat is a small forest bird from west-central Angola. A 2003 survey added records near Conda and Seles, including low secondary growth, forest edge, and regenerating coffee forest.
The paper describes olive-brown plumage and prominent bristles at the base of the bill. Re-examined underpart feathers from specimens showed traces of orange pigment.
The 2003 records came from low, dense secondary growth, stunted primary forest with rocky understory, and regenerating coffee forest. The paper also reports the bird searching for insects low in the forest understory.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.