View of Luanda from the Forteleza, looking west toward downtown, taken about 65 years ago. 

View of Luanda from the Forteleza, looking west toward downtown, taken about 65 years ago

UPDATE: THIS TRIP IS NOW FULL. The city of Luanda is one of the oldest cities in Africa, having been founded in 1575. The Angola Field Group is organizing an ‘Historic Walking Tour of Downtown Luanda‘ on Sunday, June 23, 9:00 AM with Eleutério Freire, an Angolan history buff, retired from Civil Service, who served 9 years as President of the International Committee on Monuments and Sites in Angola. He is basing his tour on historic evidence that Luanda is a town born because of the Atlantic slave trade which continued to the end of the 19th century when international pressure forced it to stop. The next significant growth of the city was based on the coffee industry after World War II and now oil is the driving force behind Luanda’s expansion.

Hotel Globo, taken around 1952, still exists today about a block east of the Epic Sana Hotel.

Hotel Globo, taken around 1952, still exists today about a block east of the Epic Sana Hotel

This is a walking tour approximately 3 hours long. Open to members of the Angola Field Group. Limited space so please only sign up if you seriously intend to go. 1000 kwanzas each to cover guiding fees. To sign up send an email to angolafieldgroup@gmail.com giving your name and phone number.

Further details will be emailed when you are confirmed for the trip. All Angola Field Trips are at your own risk.

The downtown stationery shop Lello is a Luanda landmark today.

The downtown stationery shop Lello is a Luanda landmark today. Photos from the book “Luanda, Cidade Portuguesa Fundada por Paulo Dias de Novais” by Rui Pires.