Central Africa Encompassed

Bangui
Bangui is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic, located on the northern banks of the Ubangi River, which forms the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Established in 1889 during French colonial rule, the city serves as the country’s administrative, economic, and cultural centre. Bangui is known for its vibrant markets, such as the central market, and landmarks like the Boganda National Museum and the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Despite its historical and strategic significance, the city has faced challenges, including political instability and economic struggles, which have shaped its modern identity.

Pygmies
‘Pygmy’ is a term used to describe a number of different ethnic groups living throughout central Africa, from the Batwa of the Great Lakes to the Ba’Aka and Badgeli of the western forests. Most Pygmy communities are partially hunter-gatherers, living on the wild products of their environment, but many also trade with neighbouring farmers to acquire cultivated foods and other material items. It is estimated that there are between 250,000 and 600,000 Pygmies living in the Congo rainforest.

The pygmies are masters of the forest, traditionally relying on it for most of their daily needs, although in modern times many have become more settled and are adopting the customs of the larger populations around them. They have been much discriminated against in recent times, with African governments attempting to ‘modernise’ them and seeing them as something of a throwback. However we feel that spending time among these groups of people, with their encyclopaedic knowledge of the natural world and unique customs is one of the more special experiences the continent can offer.

The largest city in the country, Douala is chaotic and lively and to some may be intimidating, but offers a great snapshot of modern Cameroon. Although undoubtedly the economic powerhouse of Cameroon, it is not the political capital – Yaoundé, a few hours’ drive away, is where the government is based. Douala however is much older and was founded by the Portuguese when they first arrived in the 15th century – indeed it was the Portuguese that are responsible for the modern name, as it is derived from the word ‘cameroes’ (prawns) a reference to the good fishing that they found here. Today it is a vibrant city with an excellent nightlife, and although like many cities in the region parts are rather run down, it can be a fun place to explore and soak up the tropical ambience.

Malabo                                                                                                                                                    Situated on the north coast of the island of Bioko, Equatorial Guinea’s capital is a fairly small and manageable city. Huge contrasts exist here between the typical Central African scenes of busy markets and run-down areas, and other areas flush with oil money, glittering buildings and ex-pats whizzing past in air conditioned 4wds. The city was first founded by the British in 1827, who leased the island from Spain during the colonial period. Named Port Clarence, it was used as a naval station in the effort to suppress the slave trade. Many newly freed slaves were also settled there, prior to the establishment of Liberia as a colony for freed slaves. While many of them later relocated to Sierra Leone, some of their descendants, called Fernandinos, can still be found in Malabo and the surrounding area, where they constitute a distinct ethnic group, speaking their own Afro-Portuguese pidgin dialect. When the island reverted to complete Spanish control, Malabo was renamed Santa Isabel. It was chosen to replace the mainland city of Bata as the capital of the country in 1969, and was renamed Malabo in 1973 as part of President Francisco Macías Nguema’s campaign to replace European place names with ‘authentic’ African ones. Today it holds a good number of Spanish colonial buildings – the only real ‘sights’ of the city – sitting awkwardly close to modern banks, restaurants and office buildings, as the city enjoys the wealth created by the oil boom.

Like most African cities, Libreville is a fairly modern creation, having been established as a settlement for freed slaves in the mid 19^th century – hence the name. Initially consisting of little more than a trading post, it grew enormously after independence and today is home to around 40% of Gabon’s population. One of Africa’s more expensive cities, Libreville has a rather odd feel to it – oil money means that it has more than its fair share of glitzy modern buildings, although hidden away are of course the inevitable shanty towns. With few sights to speak of, the city is interesting for presenting a very different side to Africa than you may have seen before.

Far less bold and brash than its larger cousin across the river, Brazzaville is the country’s capital and largest city, city on the banks of the Congo River and eyeing Kinshasa across the water. The town was ‘founded’ by French colonialists in the late 19

century after the explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza came here on his exploration of equatorial Africa, making a treaty with local people that they didn’t fully understand, ceding the territory to France. Brazzaville and Kinshasa are the only two capital cities within sight of each other. Brazzaville was first capital of French Congo, then French Equatorial Africa, which also included other territories such as Gabon and the Central African Republic. Over the years it has seen more than its fair share of conflict, as competing factions vied for control of the city, and it’s not hard to see evidence of this in destroyed buildings and bullet marked walls, but today the city is a peaceful place with very little crime, and far less intimidating than Kinshasa. There are a few sights worth seeing while you are here – the cathedral and basilica are interesting, although not particularly old, and there is a memorial to de Brazza as well as a sizeable mosque. The rapids on the Congo River are dotted with rocks where local people come to do their laundry, and quite picturesque. But perhaps the best way to get to grips with this city is to head out to one of its lively bars, seek out some live music, and soak up the vibrant evening atmosphere.