Benguela (São Felipe de Benguela, formerly
spelled
Benguella) is a city in western
Angola, south of
Luanda, and capital of
Benguela Province. It lies on a bay of the same name, in 12° 33’ S., 13° 25’ E. Benguela is Angola's second most famous city and self-appointed cultural capital. It is a charming muddle of low-rise apartment blocks and sputtering motorcycles that weave deftly between Benguela's famous crimson acacia trees.
History
Portuguese rule
Benguela, a Portuguese fort from 1587, was founded in 1617 by the
Portuguese under
Manuel Cerveira Pereira, 8th
Governor of
Angola (1604-1607). It was long the centre of an important trade, especially in
slaves to
Brazil and
Cuba. Ships anchor about a mile off the shore, in 4 to 6
fathoms (7 to 11 m) and transfer loads to smaller boats which use five or six
jetties in the town. However the nearby deep-water sheltered harbour of
Lobito is a much larger port.
First Coat of Arms of the city of Benguela, about late XVII century
Besides the churches of S. Felipe and S. Antonio, the hospital, and the fortress, there were, as of 1911, only a few stone-built houses. A short way beyond Benguela is
Baía Farta, where salt was manufactured and
sulphur was extracted. Close to
Baia Farta was the most beautiful beach of
Baia Azul. The city prospered and grew in the following decades. The
Benguela Railway was built in the early 20th century by Portugal to connect the city and
Lobito to the interior, and it achieved great success when linked to the
Copperbelt of
Katanga,
DR Congo and
Zambia. Starting in the early 20th century, Benguela attracted, developed, and retained quality businesses and professionals into its thriving and growing economy.
Sisal and
fishing industries expanded and the financial, construction and services market boomed until 1974.
After independence from Portugal
In 1975, after the April 1974
Carnation Revolution in
Lisbon, Portugal, the Portuguese
Overseas Province of Angola become independent. Due to the
civil war in Angola (1975-2002), which lasted more than 20 years after the independence from Portugal, the important
Benguela railway line was closed. Only the short distance of 30 km between Benguela and
Lobito remained operational. In the mid-2000s, with a more peaceful environment, rehabilitation of the railway between Benguela and
Huambo commenced.
In 1983 Benguela had a population of 155,000. During the civil war the city of Benguela increased its population due to refugees from the countryside. While the colonial part of the city consists of relatively good quality houses, most of the refugees are living today in slum areas.
Transportation
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Benguela is also referenced in a game called
Battlecity, below 'Andorra-la-vella' and above 'Huambo'.
