Benguela ( umb, Luombaka Volupale) is a
province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''Roman province, provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire ...
of
Angola
, national_anthem = " Angola Avante"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capital = Luanda
, religion =
, religion_year = 2020
, religion_ref =
, coordina ...
, situated in the west of the country. It lies on the
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
, and borders the provinces of
Cuanza Sul,
Namibe,
Huila, and
Huambo
Huambo, formerly Nova Lisboa (English: ''New Lisbon''), is the third-most populous city in Angola, after the capital city Luanda and Lubango, with a population of 595,304 in the city and a population of 713,134 in the municipality of Huambo (Cen ...
. The province has an area of and its capital is
Benguela
Benguela (; Umbundu: Luombaka) is a city in western Angola, capital of Benguela Province. Benguela is one of Angola's most populous cities with a population of 555,124 in the city and 561,775 in the municipality, at the 2014 census.
History
Por ...
. According to the 2014 census, there were 2,231,385 inhabitants in the province.
The current governor of Benguela is Isaac dos Anjos.
History
In the 16th-century there existed a Kingdom of Brnguela. It's ruler first contacted agents of the Portuguese government in 1586 after Dias de Novais had defeated the forces of the ruler of Ndongo. A Portuguese attempt to contact the rulers of Benguela failed in 1587.
As of 1600 the ruler of Benguela was
Hombi a Njimbe (sometimes Anglacized as Hombiangymbe). The kingdom at that time stretched from the headwaters of the
Cuvo River
The Cuvo is a river in central Angola. The river mouth is at the Atlantic Ocean at Benguela Bay, in Cuanza Sul Province. Cuvo is its name in its upper reaches; its lower course is called the Keve or Queve. The river is navigable upstream to Binga ...
to the
Longa River, covering the northwestern highlands of what is today Angola. This area at the time was primarily Umbundu speaking.
The Portuguese crown created the Kingdom of Benguela in 1615 to improve the conditions to develop the desired land route to
Mozambique
Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...
across Africa. The trading post founded here did not meet the expectations of the Portuguese in mineral resources and soil quality, so a village was only established for the slave trade, under the name of Mbaka.
![Locomotiva do CFB em 1973](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Locomotiva_do_CFB_em_1973.jpg)
With the era of imperialist efforts of European countries to acquire colonies in Africa, at the end of the 19th century, Portugal increased its presence in the region in order to protect them from the advances of the German Empire and other states. Even before the Berlin Congo Conference in 1884–85, when European powers divided up the African colonial territories among themselves, Portugal had strengthened its colonial administration as early as 1869, and divided the three districts of Luanda, Benguela and Moçâmedes (now Namibe).
From 1903, the
Benguela Railway was built connecting the port of
Lobito
Lobito is a Municipalities of Angola, municipality in Angola. It is located in Benguela Province, on the Atlantic Coast north of the Catumbela Estuary. The Lobito municipality had a population of 393,079 in 2014.
History
The city was founded in ...
to
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo (french: Congo belge, ; nl, Belgisch-Congo) was a Belgian colony in Central Africa from 1908 until independence in 1960. The former colony adopted its present name, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in 1964.
Colo ...
, which led to the growing importance of the port and industries emerged, particularly the processing of
sisal
Sisal (, ) (''Agave sisalana'') is a species of flowering plant native to southern Mexico, but widely cultivated and naturalized in many other countries. It yields a stiff fibre used in making rope and various other products. The term sisal ma ...
fiber, which contributed to the development of district of Benguela.
By 1912, the Benguela Railway had reached
Huambo
Huambo, formerly Nova Lisboa (English: ''New Lisbon''), is the third-most populous city in Angola, after the capital city Luanda and Lubango, with a population of 595,304 in the city and a population of 713,134 in the municipality of Huambo (Cen ...
from Lobito, and the line was eventually completed in 1929.
Mostly after 1938, Benguela city's rubber and ivory trade made it a "relevant commercial warehouse".
Since the 1960s, with increased competition in the sisal trade worldwide, rich fish stocks off the coast have been one of the principal economic drivers of the region.
From the late 1960s the population structure has changed, partly due to the regional economic upheaval, the massive emigration of European settlers to the Angola when it became independent in 1975, and the influx of many
IDPs
An internally displaced person (IDP) is someone who is forced displacement, forced to leave their home but who remains within their country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the Refugee#Definition ...
during the
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War ( pt, Guerra Civil Angolana) was a civil war in Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with interludes, until 2002. The war immediately began after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. The war was ...
(1975–2002); 1988 figures put the displaced population in the province at 21,478, living in nine camps.
Geography
Benguela Province is situated in the west of the country, on the
Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
coast. It also borders the provinces of
Cuanza Sul (to the north),
Namibe (to the southwest),
Huila (to the southeast), and
Huambo
Huambo, formerly Nova Lisboa (English: ''New Lisbon''), is the third-most populous city in Angola, after the capital city Luanda and Lubango, with a population of 595,304 in the city and a population of 713,134 in the municipality of Huambo (Cen ...
(to the east). It is traversed by the northwesterly line of equal latitude and longitude with three zones: coastal at ; central at ; and eastern with a medium altitude greater than .
Municipalities
The province of Benguela contains ten
municipalities
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
( pt, municípios):
*
Baía-Farta
*
Balombo
*
Benguela
Benguela (; Umbundu: Luombaka) is a city in western Angola, capital of Benguela Province. Benguela is one of Angola's most populous cities with a population of 555,124 in the city and 561,775 in the municipality, at the 2014 census.
History
Por ...
*
Bocoio
Bocoio is a town and Municipalities of Angola, municipality in Benguela Province in Angola. Its administrative capital is Tchissandji. The municipality had a population of 164,685 in 2014.
It is located in the northeast side of the province, 106 ...
*
Caimbambo
*
Catumbela
Catumbela is a city and municipality of the Benguela province in Angola. The municipality had a population of 175,805 in 2014.
History
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Portuguese built ''Forte de São Pedro'' to establish themselv ...
*
Chongorói
*
Cubal
Cubal is a town and Municipalities of Angola, municipality in Benguela Province in Angola. The municipality had a population of 305,632 in 2014.
Transport
It has a station on the central line of Benguela Railway, Angolan Railways.
See als ...
*
Ganda
Ganda may refer to:
Places
* Ganda, Angola
* Ganda, Tibet, China
* Ganda, the ancient Latin name of Ghent, a city in Belgium
Other uses
* Baganda or Ganda, a people of Uganda
** Luganda or Ganda language, a language of Uganda
* ''Ganda'' and "Ga ...
*
Lobito
Lobito is a Municipalities of Angola, municipality in Angola. It is located in Benguela Province, on the Atlantic Coast north of the Catumbela Estuary. The Lobito municipality had a population of 393,079 in 2014.
History
The city was founded in ...
Communes
The province of Benguela contains the following
communes
An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have a high degree of social cohesion and teamwork from the start. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, relig ...
( pt, comunas); sorted by their respective municipalities:
* Baia-Farta Municipality: –
Baía-Farta,
Calohanga (Kalohanga),
Dombe Grande,
Equimina
* Balombo Municipality: –
Balombo,
Chindumbo (Chidumbo),
Chingongo (Chigongo),
Maca Mombolo
* Benguela Municipality: –
Benguela
Benguela (; Umbundu: Luombaka) is a city in western Angola, capital of Benguela Province. Benguela is one of Angola's most populous cities with a population of 555,124 in the city and 561,775 in the municipality, at the 2014 census.
History
Por ...
; which is subdivided into six zones
* Bocoio Municipality: –
Bocoio
Bocoio is a town and Municipalities of Angola, municipality in Benguela Province in Angola. Its administrative capital is Tchissandji. The municipality had a population of 164,685 in 2014.
It is located in the northeast side of the province, 106 ...
,
Cavimbe,
Chila,
Cubal do Lumbo,
Monte Belo,
Passe
* Caimbambo Municipality: –
Caiave,
Caimbambo,
Canhamela,
Catengue
Catengue is an Angolan commune. It belongs to the municipality of Caimbambo, in the province of Benguela
Benguela (; Umbundu: Luombaka) is a city in western Angola, capital of Benguela Province. Benguela is one of Angola's most populous cit ...
,
Viangombe
* Catumbela Municipality: –
Biópio,
Catumbela
Catumbela is a city and municipality of the Benguela province in Angola. The municipality had a population of 175,805 in 2014.
History
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Portuguese built ''Forte de São Pedro'' to establish themselv ...
,
Gama,
Praia Bebe
* Chongorói Municipality: –
Bolongueira (Bolongueira),
Camuine (Kamuine),
Chongorói
* Cubal Municipality: –
Capupa,
Cubal
Cubal is a town and Municipalities of Angola, municipality in Benguela Province in Angola. The municipality had a population of 305,632 in 2014.
Transport
It has a station on the central line of Benguela Railway, Angolan Railways.
See als ...
,
Iambala (Imbala),
Tumbulo (Lomaum)
* Ganda Municipality: –
Babaera,
Casseque (Kasseque),
Chicuma (Chikuma),
Ebanga,
Ganda
Ganda may refer to:
Places
* Ganda, Angola
* Ganda, Tibet, China
* Ganda, the ancient Latin name of Ghent, a city in Belgium
Other uses
* Baganda or Ganda, a people of Uganda
** Luganda or Ganda language, a language of Uganda
* ''Ganda'' and "Ga ...
* Lobito Municipality: –
Canjala,
Egipto Praia (Egito),
Lobito
Lobito is a Municipalities of Angola, municipality in Angola. It is located in Benguela Province, on the Atlantic Coast north of the Catumbela Estuary. The Lobito municipality had a population of 393,079 in 2014.
History
The city was founded in ...
-Canata
Culture
The predominant ethnic groups are the
Ovimbundu
The Ovimbundu, also known as the Southern Mbundu, are a Bantu ethnic group who live on the Bié Plateau of central Angola and in the coastal strip west of these highlands. As the largest ethnic group in Angola, they make up 38 percent of the ...
and
Ngangela. The majority language is
Umbundu
Umbundu, or South Mbundu (autonym umb, úmbúndú), one of many Bantu languages, is the most widely-spoken autochthonous language of Angola. Its speakers are known as '' Ovimbundu'' and are an ethnic group constituting a third of Angola's popul ...
.
List of governors of Benguela
References
External links
*
Official website of province governorInformation on this province at the Angolan ministry for territorial administrationProvince geographical info at geoview.info
{{Authority control
Provinces of Angola