The cradle of mankind keeps many secrets in its open spaces and in the bowels of the earth. Thousands of tourists and adventurers come to Africa to see the stunning scenery and get acquainted with the original culture of African tribes. We will travel across the African continent to visit the largest cities in Africa. For the criterion, we took the population. For the most impatient, we will first show a map showing the largest African cities.
The largest cities in Africa:
1
Cairo. Egypt (19.5 million people)
The Egyptian capital, surrounded on all sides by an endless sandy desert, stretches in a narrow green strip along both banks of the Nile.
The largest city in Africa and the entire Islamic world has 19.5 million inhabitants. The name is derived from the Arabic word "Al-Qahira", which means "Victorious." There is a second version, the followers of which derive the name from the Coptic word "Kahira", which literally means "Earth of the Sun."
The founding date is 969, when the city of Misr was erected here. Since then, Cairo has been associated with Egypt, and Egypt with its beautiful capital.
2
Lagos. Nigeria (13.7 million people)
Almost 23 million people live in a city in southwestern Nigeria along with the surrounding area, but 13.7 million people live directly in Lagos.
Africa's largest port was originally a small settlement of the Yoruba tribe, and then turned into an important center of the slave trade of the African continent. The Portuguese, the first of the Europeans to land here, called this region “Lagos”, which means lakes.
In 1960, Nigeria became an independent state, and Lagos the most important trade, financial and economic center of the country and all of Africa.
3
Kinshasa. Congo (11.9 million people)
On the site of the modern capital of the Republic of the Congo, there was a small village of Kinshasa of the Bateke tribe. The village of the Central African tribe has long been lost in the city buildings.
And the city itself has its history since 1881. It was in this year that the famous British journalist and traveler Henry Stanley founded a military town here. It has become a center of commerce in this part of Africa.
The capital of the Congo, according to thebiggest.ru, is a city of contrasts. Here, next to modern high-rise buildings, shopping and financial centers, the poorest neighborhoods adjoin. Kinshasa is also a center of education. There are 3 universities here.
4
Johannesburg. South Africa (5.6 million people)
The largest city in the Republic of South Africa, locals call affectionately-abbreviated "Egoli", "Joburg". In the place of Johannesburg, starting from the XII and up to the XVIII century, bloody wars were waged between the local tribes.
Then the Europeans came here, and the city began with small huts for gold miners. In 1886, the Austrian John Harrison found gold here. The gold rush contributed to a significant population growth. This year is considered to be the date of foundation of Johannesburg.
One of the most developed cities in Africa with modern infrastructure, entertainment centers and park areas. In 2010, the matches of the World Cup were held here.
5
Khartoum. Sudan (5 million people)
Where the waves of the White and Blue Nile merge, in 1823 a city was founded, which eventually became the capital of Sudan. Its name, translated from Arabic, means "trunk of an elephant."
The settlement made the Egyptian governor-general his residence. At the end of the XIX century, only 45 thousand inhabitants lived in it, and now a little more than 5 million. Khartoum administration buildings are built in the Arabian architectural style.
An administrative center stretched along the Blue Nile, followed by ministry buildings, banks, and shopping centers. The main attraction is the National Museum of Sudan. Among the twin cities is the infamous Wuhan, which began the spread of coronavirus.
By the way, on our site thebiggest.ru there is an article about the most dangerous viruses in the world.
6
Luanda. Angola (2.57 million people)
Photo by David Stanley
The city was founded by the Portuguese in 1575, and it was called the “City of St. Paul in Luanda”. Luanda, the locals called the area in which they lived.
Amazing kauri shells were collected on the shores of the ocean, which served as money for the locals until the beginning of the twentieth century. Therefore, “Luanda” in the language of local tribes means “tribute”, “submit”, “tax”. The advantageous position on the Atlantic coast made Luanda an important shopping center.
The Portuguese began to establish their own rules, but the natives managed to preserve the ancient traditions. The capital of Angola is developing rapidly, taking a leading place in the financial and economic life of the African continent.
7
Alexandria. Egypt (4.99 million people)
Located in the Nile Delta, Alexandria is an important port and the second largest city in Egypt. It was founded in 332 BC and named after the great commander Alexander the Great.
An important center of the Hellenic world was built by the architect Deinocrates. In ancient times, it was famous for its famous lighthouse and library. In the halls of the library were collected unique documents of the time, manuscripts and works of famous Eastern and Greek scholars.
In Alexandria, eastern and European traditions harmoniously merged. There are many attractions in the city, which is why Alexandria is considered a major tourist center.
8
Abidjan. Cote d’Ivoire (4.4 million people)
Posted by: PDA / CC BY-SA
The area is inhabited by the Ebrier tribe. When the first Europeans arrived here, they asked the name of the village. A local resident cut the branches of a tree, and handed it to strangers. Since then, the city began to be called "Abidjan", which means "cut leaves."
Over time, the cut branch became a symbol of the end of feuds. It was founded at the end of the 19th century by French colonists. The quarters are spread out over four picturesque peninsulas of the Gulf of Guinea. The population mainly speaks French.
From 1960 to 1983, Abidjan was the capital of the state, and now it is a large port and industrial center.
9
Cape Town South Africa (3.8 million people)
Archaeological research has shown that the first human settlements in Cape Town belong to the Late Paleolithic. In 1486, the Cape of Good Hope was visited by the legendary traveler Bartolomeu Dias.
I saw the cape and Vasco da Gama, who sailed here in 1497. But the city dates back to 1652, when the Dutchman Jan van Riebek created a base for the ships of his expedition. The city has become an important point of the East India Company on its way from Europe to India.
Cape Town has a population of different nationalities. By this indicator, it is the most multinational city in the world. Local blacks communicate in a special Afrikaans language. It is noteworthy that the star Charlize Theron, born in South Africa, speaks this language fluently.
10
Nairobi. Kenya (4.4 million people)
The Kenyan capital is located at the equator, and the only city in the world located near the National Park. It is one of the most insecure places on the planet due to the high crime rate.
The first settlements began to appear among the swamps, and in 1899, during the construction of the railway, part of the swamps was drained, building barracks for workers. In the language of Swahili and other local tribes, the name of the city means “swamps”.
Tourists come here to see the beauties of the National Park, which is home to more than 400 different species of animals and birds. Especially popular among Europeans are car walks in the picturesque places of the park.
Do not miss on our site thebiggest.ru informative article about the largest capitals in the world.
11
Durban South Africa (3.5 million people)
The name of the city among the Zulu tribes means "a place at the harbor", and it was founded in 1835. The Zulu tribes at first belligerently accepted the Europeans, but then one of the doctors cured the leader. In gratitude to the Europeans, a piece of land was donated, where Durban subsequently grew.
The population, and now more than 3.5 million people live here, speaks the Zulu language. The rest communicate in English and dialects of African tribes. There are descendants of Indians here.
Durban has become an important tourist destination. Around it are picturesque natural monuments, among which the Valley of the Thousand Hills stands out.
12
Casablanca. Morocco (3.5 million people)
The largest city of Morocco in the Middle Ages was called Anfa. During the period of colonization, the first settlement was completely destroyed. A new settlement was built on the site of the ruins, which was called Casablanca, which translates as the “White House”.
In 1956, Morocco gained independence. The French left, and the locals faced a number of economic problems. Over time, difficulties were overcome, and Casablanca became the center of trade and the country's economy.
The city is full of attractions, and its name is very popular in culture and art.
Summary
In the photo: the city of Keytown, South Africa
African cities are unlike other urban settlements in the world. They have their own special flavor, their traditions and culture. European culture is harmoniously woven into local national traditions, creating an original atmosphere of African cities. There are very young cities, and there are those that began the countdown of history many millennia ago.
Article author: Valery Skiba