📰 Luanda · page 2

Climate change

A 2019 paper published in PLOS One estimated that under Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5, a "moderate" scenario of climate change where global warming reaches ~2.5-3 C-change by 2100, the climate of Luanda in the year 2050 would most closely resemble the current climate of Guatemala City corpus.80 The annual temperature would increase by 0.7 C-change, the temperature of the coldest month by 0.4 C-change, and the temperature of the warmest month by 0.1 C-change.[37][38]81 According to Climate Action Tracker, the current warming trajectory appears consistent with 2.7 C-change, which closely matches RCP 4.5.[39]82

Moreover, according to the 2022 IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, Luanda is one of 12 major African cities (Abidjan corpus, Alexandria, Algiers corpus, Cape Town corpus, Casablanca, Dakar corpus, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Lagos, Lomé corpus, Luanda and Maputo corpus) which would be the most severely affected by the future sea level rise.83 It estimates that they would collectively sustain cumulative damages of US$65 billion under RCP 4.5 and US$86.5 billion for the high-emission scenario RCP 8.5 by the year 2050.84 Additionally, RCP 8.5 combined with the hypothetical impact from marine ice sheet instability at high levels of warming would involve up to US$137.5 billion in damages, while the additional accounting for the "low-probability, high-damage events" may increase aggregate risks to US$187 billion for the "moderate" RCP4.5, US$206 billion for RCP8.5 and US$397 billion under the high-end ice sheet instability scenario.[40]85 Since sea level rise would continue for about 10,000 years under every scenario of climate change, future costs of sea level rise would only increase, especially without adaptation measures.[41]86

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Angola

The inhabitants of Luanda are primarily members of African ethnic groups, mainly Ambundu, Ovimbundu, and Bakongo.87 The official and the most widely used language is Portuguese, although several Bantu languages are also used, chiefly Kimbundu, Umbundu, and Kikongo.[43]88

The population of Luanda has grown dramatically in recent years, due in large part to war-time migration to the city, which is safe compared to the rest of the country.[44]89 In 2006, however, Luanda saw an increase in violent crime, particularly in the shanty towns that surround the colonial urban core.[45]90

There is a sizable minority population of European origin, especially Portuguese (about 260,000), as well as Brazilians.91 In recent years, mainly since the mid-2000s, immigration from Portugal has increased due to greater opportunities present in Angola's booming economy.[46][47]92 There is a sprinkling of immigrants from other African countries as well, including a small expatriate South African corpus community.93 A small number of people of Luanda are of mixed race — European/Portuguese and native African.94 Over the last decades, a significant Chinese community has formed,[48] as has a much smaller Vietnamese community.[49]95

Places of worship

Among the places of worship, several are predominantly Christian churches and congregations:[43]96

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda (Catholic Church)97
• Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola (World Communion of Reformed Churches)98
• Evangelical Reformed Church in Angola (World Communion of Reformed Churches)99
• Baptist Convention of Angola (Baptist World Alliance)100
• Universal Church of the Kingdom of God101
• Assemblies of God.102
• Jehovah's Witnesses.103

Culture

As the economic and political center of Angola, Luanda is similarly the epicenter of Angolan culture.104 The city is home to numerous cultural institutions, including the Sindika Dokolo Foundation.105

The city hosts the annual Luanda International Jazz Festival, since 2009, and houses the Clube Náutico da Ilha de Luanda (CNIL), translated as the "Nautical Club of Luanda Island".106 CNIL is a sports club founded on February 28, 1924, under the name "Nun'Alvares Sports Club" (Clube Desportivo Nun'Alvares), a name it kept until April 11, 1979, when following the order of the secretary of the National Council of Physical Education and Sport of Angola, which stated, that clubs with names related to colonialism should proceed to its replacement, the club had to change his name.[50]107 Since its foundation it is the yacht club with most titles in Angola to date.[50]108

The city is home to numerous museums, including:109

• National Museum of Anthropology110
• National Museum of Natural History111
• Museum of the Armed Forces112
• National Museum of Slavery113
• Museum of Science (Angola)114

Other monuments in the city include:115

• Palácio de Ferro116
• Fortress of São Miguel117
• Fortress of São Francisco do Penedo118
• Luanda Cathedral119
• Igreja de Jesus120
• Igreja da Nossa Senhora do Cabo121
• Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Conceição122
• Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Nazaré123
• Igreja da Nossa Senhora do Carmo124
• Arquivo Histórico Nacional125

Economy

See also: Economy of Angola

Around one-third of Angolans live in Luanda, 53% of whom live in poverty.126 Living conditions in Luanda are poor for most of the people, with essential services such as safe drinking water and electricity still in short supply, and severe shortcomings in traffic conditions.[51]127

Luanda is one of the world's most expensive cities for resident foreigners.[52]128 In Mercer's cost of living index, Luanda was ranked as top of the list due to the extremely high costs of goods and security.129 Luanda sits above Seoul corpus, Geneva and Shanghai in the rankings.130 These costs have fueled rampant inequality in the city.131 Skyscrapers are left barren as the price of oil drops.[53]132

New import tariffs imposed in March 2014 made Luanda even more expensive.133 As an example, a half-litre tub of vanilla ice cream at the supermarket was reported to cost US$31.134 The higher import tariffs applied to hundreds of items, from garlic to cars.135 The stated aim was to try to diversify the heavily oil-dependent economy and nurture farming and industry, sectors that have remained weak.136 These tariffs have caused much hardship in a country where the average salary was US$260 per month in 2010, the latest year for which data was available.137 However, the average salary in the booming oil industry was over 20 times higher at US$5,400 per month.[54]138

Manufacturing includes processed foods, beverages, textiles, cement and other building materials, plastic products, metalware, cigarettes, and shoes/clothes.139 Petroleum (found in nearby off-shore deposits) is refined in the city, although this facility was repeatedly damaged during the Angolan Civil War of 1975–2002.140 Luanda has an excellent natural harbour; the chief exports are coffee, cotton, sugar, diamonds, iron, and salt.[55]141

The city also has a thriving building industry, an effect of the nationwide economic boom experienced since 2002, when political stability returned with the end of the civil war.142 Economic growth is largely supported by oil extraction activities, although great diversification is taking place.143 Large investment (domestic and international), along with strong economic growth, has dramatically increased construction of all economic sectors in the city of Luanda.[56]144 In 2007, the first modern shopping mall in Angola was established in the city at Belas Shopping mall.[57]145

Transport

Railway

Luanda is the starting point of the Luanda railway that goes due east to Malanje.146 The civil war left the railway non-functional, but the railway has been restored up to Dondo and Malanje.[58]147

Airports

The main airport of Luanda was Quatro de Fevereiro Airport.148 A new international airport, Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport was constructed southeast of the city, a few kilometres from Viana, and was expected to be opened in 2011.[59]149 However, as the Angolan government did not continue to make the payments due to the Chinese enterprise in charge of the construction, the firm suspended its work in 2010.150 The airport finally opened in November 2023.151 The new airport will gradually replace the old airport.[60][61]152

Port

The Port of Luanda serves as the largest port of Angola corpus and is one of the busiest ports in Africa.[62]153 Major expansion of this port is also taking place.[63]154 In 2014, a new port is being developed at Dande, about 30 km to the north.155

Road transport

Luanda's roads are in a poor state of repair, but are undergoing an extensive reconstruction process by the government in order to relieve traffic congestion in the city.156 Major road repairs can be found taking place in nearly every neighbourhood, including a major 6-lane highway connected Luanda to Viana.[64]157

Public transport

Public transit is provided by the suburban services of the Luanda Railway, by the public company TCUL, and by a large fleet of privately owned collective taxis as white-blue painted minibuses called Candongueiro.158 Candongueiros are usually Toyota Hiace vans, that are built to carry 12 people, although the candongueiros usually carry at least 15 people.159 They charge from 100 to 200 kwanzas per trip.160 They are known to disobey traffic rules, for example not stopping at signs and driving over pavements and aisles.161

In 2019, the Luanda Light Rail network with an estimated cost of US $3 billion was announced to begin construction in 2020.[65]162

Education

International schools:163

• Escola Portuguesa de Luanda164
• Colégio Português de Luanda165
• Colégio São Francisco de Assis166
• Luanda International School167
• English School Community of Luanda168

Higher education

Universities:169

• Agostinho Neto University170
• Lusíada University171
• Catholic University of Angola172
• Technical University of Angola173
• Methodist University of Angola174
• Private University of Angola175
• Jean Piaget University of Angola176
• University of Luanda177
• Universidade Indepedente de Angola178
• Higher Institute of Education Sciences of the Luanda179

Sports

Luanda's Pavilhão Multiusos do Kilamba hosted games for Angola's national basketball team on many occasions.[66]180

In 2013 Luanda together with Namibe, today's Moçâmedes, hosted the 2013 FIRS Men's Roller Hockey World Cup, the first time that a World Cup of roller hockey was held in Africa.181 The city is home to the Desportivo do Bengo football club.182

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Africa § Angola

Twin towns – Sister cities

Luanda is twinned with:183

• Houston, United States[67]184
• Caruaru, Brazil [68]185
• São Paulo, Brazil[69][70]186
• Lisbon corpus, Portugal[71][72]187
• Oaxaca, Mexico188
• Praia corpus, Cape Verde189
• Beira, Mozambique190
• Windhoek corpus, Namibia191
• Bissau corpus, Guinea-Bissau192
• Beijing corpus, China193
• Macau, Macau194
• Maputo corpus, Mozambique195
• Tahoua, Niger196
• São Tomé corpus, São Tomé and Príncipe197
• Johannesburg, South Africa198
• Cairo corpus, Egypt199
• Porto, Portugal[73][74][75]200
• Huambo, Angola201
• Toulon, France202
• Asunción corpus, Paraguay203
• Cape Town corpus, South Africa204

Bibliography

See also: Timeline of Luanda § Bibliography

External links

Portal da Cidade de Luanda

www.cidadeluanda.com - Luanda, city map, History, Photos