Benguela Province

Province of Angola

Province in Angola

Benguela

Province

Benguela, province of Angola

Country| Angola
Capital| Benguela
Government

• Governor| Rui Luís Falcão Pinto de Andrade
• Vice-Governor for the Political, Economic and Social Sector| Deolinda Tchocondoca Valiangula
• Vice-Governor for Technical Services and Infrastructures| Leopoldo Francisco Jeremias Muhongo
Area

• Total| 39,826 km2 (15,377 sq mi)
Population

(2014 census)[1]

• Total| 2,231,385
• Density| 56/km2 (150/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code| AO-BGU
HDI (2018)| 0.523[2]
low · 12th
Website| www.benguela.gov.ao

Benguela (Umbundu: Luombaka Volupale) is a province of Angola, situated in the west of the country. It lies on the Atlantic Ocean, and borders the provinces of Cuanza Sul, Namibe, Huila, and Huambo. The province has an area of 39,826 square kilometres (15,377 sq mi) and its capital is Benguela. According to the 2014 census, there were 2,231,385 inhabitants in the province.[1] The current governor of Benguela is Isaac dos Anjos.[3]

## History

[edit]

In the 16th-century there existed a Kingdom of Benguela. Its 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.[4]

As of 1600 the ruler of Benguela was Hombi a Njimbe (sometimes Anglicized as Hombiangymbe). The kingdom at that time stretched from the headwaters of the Cuvo River to the Longa River, covering the northwestern highlands of what is today Angola. This area at the time was primarily Umbundu speaking.[5]

The Portuguese crown created the Kingdom of Benguela in 1615 to improve the conditions to develop the desired land route to Mozambique 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.[6]

Caminho de Ferro de Benguela (1973)

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).[6] From 1903, the Benguela Railway was built connecting the port of Lobito to Belgian Congo, which led to the growing importance of the port and industries emerged, particularly the processing of sisal fiber, which contributed to the development of district of Benguela.[6][7] By 1912, the Benguela Railway had reached Huambo from Lobito, and the line was eventually completed in 1929.[6] Mostly after 1938, Benguela city's rubber and ivory trade made it a "relevant commercial warehouse".[8]

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.[7] From the late 1960s the population structure has changed, partly due to the regional economic upheaval, the massive emigration of European settlers from Angola when it became independent in 1975, and the influx of many IDPs during the Angolan Civil War (1975–2002); 1988 figures put the displaced population in the province at 21,478, living in nine camps.[9]

## Geography

[edit]

Benguela Province is situated in the west of the country, on the Atlantic coast. It also borders the provinces of Cuanza Sul (to the north), Namibe (to the southwest), Huila (to the southeast), and Huambo (to the east). It is traversed by the northwesterly line of equal latitude and longitude with three zones: coastal at 0–500 metres (0–1,640 ft); central at 500–1,200 metres (1,600–3,900 ft); and eastern with a medium altitude greater than 1,500 metres (4,900 ft).[8]

## Municipalities

[edit]

Fishing boats near Lobito

Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz in Cubal

Portuguese church in Benguela

The province of Benguela contains ten municipalities (Portuguese: municípios):[10]

* Baía-Farta
* Balombo
* Benguela
* Bocoio
* Caimbambo
* Catumbela
* Chongorói
* Cubal
* Ganda
* Lobito

## Communes

[edit]

The province of Benguela contains the following communes (Portuguese: comunas); sorted by their respective municipalities:[11]

* Baia-Farta Municipality: – Baía-Farta, Calohanga (Kalohanga), Dombe Grande, Equimina
* Balombo Municipality: – Balombo, Chindumbo (Chidumbo), Chingongo (Chigongo), Maca Mombolo
* Benguela Municipality: – Benguela; which is subdivided into six zones
* Bocoio Municipality: – Bocoio, Cavimbe, Chila, Cubal do Lumbo, Monte Belo, Passe
* Caimbambo Municipality: – Caiave, Caimbambo, Canhamela, Catengue, Viangombe
* Catumbela Municipality: – Biópio, Catumbela, Gama, Praia Bebe
* Chongorói Municipality: – Bolongueira (Bolongueira), Camuine (Kamuine), Chongorói
* Cubal Municipality: – Capupa, Cubal, Iambala (Imbala), Tumbulo (Lomaum)
* Ganda Municipality: – Babaera, Casseque (Kasseque), Chicuma (Chikuma), Ebanga, Ganda
* Lobito Municipality: – Canjala, Egipto Praia (Egito), Lobito-Canata

## Culture

[edit]

The predominant ethnic groups are the Ovimbundu and Ngangela. The majority language is Umbundu.[8]

## List of governors of Benguela

[edit]

Name | Years in office

|

Sócrates Mendonça de Oliveira Dáskalos | 1974–1977
Estêvão Gungo Arão | 1976–1977
José Ilídio Tehilekesse Manjenje | 1977
Luís Doukui Paulo de Castro | 1977
Garcia Lourenço Vaz Contreiras | 1977–1979
Julião Mateus Paulo a.k.a. Dino Matross | 1979–1981
Kundi Paihama | 1981–1986
João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço | 1986–1989
Paulo Teixeira Jorge | 1989–1995
Dumilde das Chagas Rangel | 1995–2009
Armando da Cruz Neto | 2009–2013
Isaac Francisco Maria dos Anjos | 2013–2017
Rui Luís Falcão Pinto de Andrade | 2017–2021
Luís da Fonseca Nunes  | 2021–

[12]

Up to 1991, the official name was Provincial Commissioner.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Resultados Definitivos Recenseamento Geral da População e Habitação – 2014 Província de Benguela" (PDF). Instituto Nacional de Estatística, República de Angola. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
2. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
3. ^ "Isaac dos Anjos hails provincial governors' capacity building". ANGOP. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
4. ^ John K. Thornton. AHistory of West Central Africa to 1850. (Cambridge University Press, 2020) p. 103
5. ^ Thornton. History of West Central Africa, p. 103
6. ^ a b c d "História" (in Portuguese). Benguela.gov. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
7. ^ a b James, W. Martin (5 May 2011). Historical Dictionary of Angola. Scarecrow Press. p. 40\. ISBN 978-0-8108-7458-9.
8. ^ a b c "Benguela – The Province". ANGOP – Angola Press News Agency. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
9. ^ Angola Company Laws and Regulations Handbook. Int'l Business Publications. 3 March 2008. p. 19\. ISBN 978-1-4330-6936-9.
10. ^ "Angola". Geohive.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
11. ^ Comunas - Ministério da Administração do Território
12. ^ "Histórico dos Governadores" (in Portuguese). benguela.gov.ao. Retrieved 3 Mar 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Benguela Province at Wikimedia Commons
* Official website of province governor
* Information on this province at the Angolan ministry for territorial administration
* Province geographical info at geoview.info

* v
* t
* e

Provinces of Angola

* Bengo
* Benguela
* Bié
* Cabinda
* Cuando Cubango
* Cuanza Norte
* Cuanza Sul
* Cunene
* Huambo
* Huíla
* Luanda
* Lunda Norte
* Lunda Sul
* Malanje
* Moxico
* Namibe
* Uíge
* Zaire

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities of Angola

Bengo Province|

* Ambriz
* Bula Atumba
* Dande
* Dembos
* Nambuangongo
* Pango Aluquém

Benguela Province|

* Baía Farta
* Balombo
* Benguela
* Bocoio
* Caimbambo
* Catumbela
* Chongorói
* Cubal
* Ganda
* Lobito

Bié Province|

* Andulo
* Cunhinga
* Chinguar
* Chitembo
* Catabola
* Camacupa
* Cuemba
* Cuíto
* Nharea

Cabinda Province|

* Belize
* Buco-Zau
* Cabinda
* Cacongo

Cuando Cubango Province|

* Calai
* Cuito Cuanavale
* Cuangar
* Cuchi
* Dirico
* Longa
* Mavinga
* Menongue
* Nancova
* Rivungo

Cuanza Norte Province|

* Ambaca
* Banga
* Bolongongo
* Cazengo
* Cambambe
* Golungo Alto
* Lucala
* Ngonguembo
* Quiculungo
* Samba Cajú

Cuanza Sul Province|

* Amboim
* Cassongue
* Cela
* Waku-Kungo
* Conda
* Ebo
* Libolo
* Mussende
* Porto Amboim
* Quibala
* Quilenda
* Seles
* Sumbe

Cunene Province|

* Cahama
* Cuanhama
* Curoca
* Cuvelai
* Namacunde
* Ombadja

Huambo Province|

* Bailundo
* Caála
* Ecunha
* Huambo
* Cachiungo
* Londuimbali
* Longonjo
* Mungo
* Chicala-Choloanga
* Chinjenje
* Ucuma

Huíla Province|

* Caconda
* Cacula
* Caluquembe
* Chibia
* Chicomba
* Chipindo
* Gambos
* Humpata
* Jamba
* Kuvango
* Lubango
* Matala
* Quilengues
* Quipungo

Luanda Province|

* Belas
* Cacuaco
* Cazenga
* Ícolo e Bengo
* Luanda
* Quiçama
* Viana

Lunda Norte Province|

* Capenda-Camulemba
* Caumbo
* Caungula
* Chitato
* Cuango
* Cuilo
* Lubalo
* Lucapa
* Xá-Muteba

Lunda Sul Province|

* Cacolo
* Dala
* Muconda
* Saurimo

Malanje Province|

* Cacuso
* Calandula
* Cambundi-Catembo
* Caombo
* Cunda-Dia-Baze
* Kiwaba Nzoji
* Luquembo
* Malanje
* Marimba
* Massango
* Mucari
* Quela
* Quirima

Moxico Province|

* Alto Zambeze
* Bundas
* Camanongue
* Léua
* Luacano
* Luau
* Luchazes
* Luena
* Lumeje
* Moxico

Namibe Province|

* Bibala
* Camacuio
* Moçâmedes
* Tômbua
* Virei

Uíge Province|

* Alto Cauale
* Ambuila
* Bembe
* Buengas
* Bungo
* Damba
* Milunga (formerly Macocola)
* Mucaba
* Negage
* Puri
* Quimbele
* Quitexe
* Sanza Pombo
* Songo
* Uíge
* Zombo

Zaire Province|

* Cuimba
* M'banza-Kongo
* Noqui
* N'zeto
* Soyo
* Tomboco

* v
* t
* e

Benguela Province

Capital: Benguela

Benguela|

* Zona A
* Zona B
* Zona C
* Zona D
* Zona E
* Zona F

Baía Farta|

* Dombe Grande
* Equimina
* Kalohanga

Balombo|

* Balombo
* Chindumbo
* Chingonjo
* Maka-Mombolo

Bocoio|

* Chila
* Cubal-do-Lumbo
* Monte Belo
* Passe

Caimbambo|

* Canhamela
* Catengue
* Cayave
* Wiyangombe

Catumbela|

* Catumbela
* Biópio
* Gama
* Praia Bebé

Chongorói|

* Bolonguera
* Camuine

Cubal|

* Cubal
* Capupa
* Tumbulo
* Yambala

Ganda|

* Ganda
* Babaera
* Casseque
* Chikuma
* Ebanga

Lobito|

* Lobito
* Canjala
* Egipto-Praia

12°40′S 14°1′E﻿ / ﻿12.667°S 14.017°E﻿ / -12.667; 14.017

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