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 3 million (1995), and is the capital city of Luanda Province.

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 Sao Pedro da Barra was built and later in 1634 a new fortress was built, Fortaleza de Sao Miguel . The city has been the administrative centre of Angola since 1627 (except for 1640–1648) and from c.1550 to c.1850 it was the center of a large slave trade to Brazil.

After Angolan independence in 1975, much of the city's large Portuguese population left and was replaced by large numbers of Cubans, many of them soldiers. It is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop. It is also the location of the University of Angola and the Governor's Palace.

Transportation

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