Luanda

Luanda (formerly called Loanda) is the largest city and capital of Angola. Located on the Atlantic Ocean, it is both Angola's chief seaport and administrative centre. It has a population of approximately 4.5 million (UN 2004 estimates), and is the capital city of Luanda Province. Luanda is located at 8°50'18" South, 13°14'4" East (-8.83833, 13.23444). [1]

Manufactures include processed foods, beverages, textiles, cement and other construction materials, plastic products, metalware, cigarettes, and shoes. Petroleum, found nearby, is refined in the city although this facility has been repeatedly damaged during the civil war. Luanda has an excellent natural harbour, and the chief exports are coffee, cotton, sugar, diamonds, iron, and salt. However, the economy of Luanda continues to be severely disrupted by the ongoing military conflicts in Angola.

Luanda is divided into two parts, the baixa (old city) and the cidade alta (new part). The baixa is situated next to the port and has narrow streets and old colonial buildings. The inhabitants of Luanda are primarily members of African ethnic groups, including the Ovimbundu, Kimbundu and Bakongo tribes. The official and the most spoken language is Portuguese, although many Bantu-related indigenous languages are spoken. There is a very small population of European origin.

History

Luanda was founded in 1575 by the Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias Novais as São Paulo de Luanda. In 1618 the fortress, Fortaleza São Pedro da Barra was built and later in 1634 a new fortress was built, Fortaleza de São Miguel. The city has been the administrative centre of Angola since 1627 (except for 1640– 1648 when it was occupied by the Dutch and named Fort Aardenburgh) and from c. 1550 to c. 1850 it was the center of a large slave trade to Brazil. In 1889 the basis for a major growth of Luanda was laid as Governor Brito Capelo opened the gates of an aqueduct which supplied the city with water, a formerly scarce resource. After this a good deal of unexpected growth increased dramatically towards 1975, with high-points such as an 1972 report which called Luanda the " Paris of Africa" for the growth that the city had shown.

By the time of Angolan independence in 1975, Luanda was a modern city and the majority of the city's population was of Portuguese origin, with very few Africans permitted to live there. After independence, most of the Portuguese left, many travelling overland to South Africa, and some carrying out acts of sabotage before they departed. There was an immediate crisis because the local African population lacked the skills and knowledge needed to run the city and maintain its infrastructure. The large numbers of skilled technicians among the force of Cuban soldiers sent in to support the MPLA government were able to make a valuable contribution to restoring and maintaining essential services in the city.

Luanda is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop. It is also the location of the University of Angola and the Governor's Palace.

Luanda is sister city to the American city of Houston, Texas.

Transportation

Luanda is the starting point of a railway that goes due east to serve the interior, without reaching the DR Congo border.

The city is home to Quatro de Fevereiro Airport (February 4th Airport), the largest one in the country.