Today we will review the top 10 largest cities in Africa, in order of the number of inhabitants, briefly presenting the reasons why it would be interesting to visit them:

 

 

 

10 Casablanca (Morocco)



Population: 4.3 million inhabitants. Founded by: Berbers in the 7th century BC

Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco and, at the same time, the largest city in northwest Africa, becoming in the last 20 years one of the African financial poles, being able to be called "the economic capital of Morocco".

The city was not originally called Casablanca, but Anfa. The name was changed to Casa Branca by the Portuguese who occupied it in the 15th century. The current name arose after the Portuguese was in turn ousted by the Spanish invaders.

 

 

 

9 Nairobi (Kenya)



Population: 4.7 million. Founded by: British East African colonialists in 1899.

The name of Nairobi (on this occasion we can better associate it with one of the protagonists of the Casa de Papel series ) comes from Enkare Nairobi, a phrase in the Maasai dialect, which means "cold water". The cold water is, in this case, a reference to the Nairobi River, which runs through the city. Over the years, the city has grown enormously, from a railway workers' camp to the capital of British East Africa (in 1907), then an African economic hub, now hosting the most numerous and secure commercial exchanges on the continent. Also, Nairobi (which is the largest city in Kenya) is home to more than 100 major international companies and organizations, along with thousands of local businesses.

 

8 Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire)



Population : 4.9 million. Founded by : French colonialists, in 1898.

Abidjan is the economic capital of Cote d'Ivoire, a very well-developed city from an economic point of view, which at first glance gives you the impression of a city with a very high level of industrialization and urbanization. It is one of the largest African cities with a French-speaking population, and although the political capital of the country is Yamoussoukro, the intense pace of growth and urbanization has made it home to the most important political institutions of the country, and even the headquarters of foreign embassies.

7 Alexandria (Egypt)



Population: 5.2 million.

Alexandria is the second largest city in Egypt, after Cairo, and, at the same time, an important industrial center, but also a very popular tourist destination. Founded by Alexander the Great and ruled by Queen Cleopatra, Alexandria has a fascinating history behind it, once being the jewel of the Mediterranean Sea (the largest city of Antiquity, before it was conquered by the Romans), home of the Great Library of Alexandria, but and the colossal Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In modern times, from the end of the 19th century until the 1950s, Alexandria was a kind of "bad boy" and bohemian, attracting with its artistic life many writers, poets, and artists, who made it their city of residence.

6 Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)



Population: 5.5 million. Founded by: Majid bin Sayyid, Sultan of Zanzibar, in 1866.

In Arabic, Dar es Salaam means "refuge of peace", the city being the former capital of Tanzania (Dodoma is the current capital), but the largest town in the country and also the largest in East Africa. Dar es Salaam is also considered one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.

Although no longer the country's capital, Dar es Salaam is its financial center, it has become Tanzania's most prominent city artistically and culturally, with an eclectic mix of African, Arab, and Indian influences. For this reason, it has become more and more visited by tourists.

5 Johannesburg (South Africa)



Population: 5.64 million. Founded: in 1886 and named after Christiaan Johannes Joubert and Johannes Rissik, two surveyors whose names were combined.

Less formally known as Jo'burg, Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and one of the most intriguing in all of Africa. Here are some of the tallest structures on the continent, the urban area is one of the most developed in Africa, Jo'burg is considered a mega-metropolis, it is the center of the gold and diamond industry, it has the busiest airport in Africa (transited by 21 million people annually) but, at the same time, it is considered a dangerous city, the crime rate being extremely high.

4 Giza (Egypt)



Population: 8.8 million. Founded by: the ancient pharaohs, in 642 BC.

Giza is considered the third largest city in Egypt and one of the most visited tourist spots in the country. And that's because here are some of the world's most impressive monuments, including the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid - a fabulous complex of sacred structures built in Antiquity. Giza is a city rich in history and culture which, interestingly, also hosts the first zoo set up on the African continent.

 

3 Cairo (Egypt)



Population: 9.5 million. Founded by: the Fatimid dynasty, in 969.

The capital of Egypt is one of the most developed African cities (and the largest in the Arab world), with a "Beta +" classification, which places it among the top cities (for example, Cairo has a metro). Being a locality with a predominantly Islamic population, it abounds in buildings with specific architecture (but also some absolutely remarkable ones, such as Bayt Al-Suhaymi and the Citadela). In fact, Cairo was nicknamed "the city of a thousand minarets", as the Arabs call it Umm al-Dunya ( Mother of the whole world ). And another interesting detail: Cairo has the oldest and largest film industry in the Arab world.

2 Kinshasa



Population: 14.34 million. Founded by: colonial administrator Henry Morton Stanley in 1881.

Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of DR Congo, at the beginning a fishing village, which would quickly develop into a mega-city. Kinshasa is now the largest French-speaking urban area in the world, surpassing Paris in terms of population. Numerous massive structures litter the city which is located face to face with Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, from which it is separated by the Congo River, the two being practically the closest capitals of the world, after Rome and the Vatican.

Kinshasa's main tourist attractions: probably the most interesting activity is taking a boat trip on the Congo River. The Marche des Voleurs (or town square) is colorful and has a vibrant atmosphere. Kinshasa has a fascinating street culture and if you stop to enjoy a coffee on Boulevard 30 Iunié you will be surprised by the local artists who will come to "perform" or sell you handicraft goods.

1 Lagos (Nigeria)



Population: 21.3 million. Founded by : the Awori, a subgroup of the Yoruba tribe, in the 15th century.

Lagos is the most populated African city, at the same time an important financial center of the continent, a famous port and one of the cities with the highest rates of development in the world. Many Nigerians and Africans in general regard Lagos as a "Mecca" of success, a land of promise where they could build a career. In fact, the city has given birth to a large number of stars from the artistic and sports fields, as well as a lot of prosperous businessmen.