Caconda
Encyclopedia
Caconda is a municipality and city situated in the North of the province of Huila, Angola
, in the Plano Alto region, approximately 280 km North of Lubango
, the provincial capital city, and approximately 700 km South from Luanda
, the country's capital city. The Concelho (municipality) was officially founded on 1857. It has approximately 160,000 inhabitants (statistics of 1983). In the 19th century, Caconda was the most advanced point in the colonial
territory of Portugal
in Africa.
There is also another populated place in Angola called Caconda, in the province of Huambo
, and a river, in the province of Uige
.
Caconda has a place in the history of zoology
, because it was in this region that the great Portuguese
naturalist and explorer José Alberto de Oliveira Anchieta
(1833-1897) carried out the greater part of his work. He died in 1897 in Caconda, while returning from an expedition.
The Caconda region was severely affected by the Angolan Civil War
. It is an extremely poor area, with a more than 20% malnutrition
rate and many families living on subsistence farming. A large number of people was displaced during the civil war. The United Nations
relief program and the World Food Program have been essential in addressing the humanitarian catastrophe.
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, in the Plano Alto region, approximately 280 km North of Lubango
Lubango
Lubango is the capital city of the Angolan province of Huíla. Its last known population was 100,757. Until 1975, the city's official name was Sá da Bandeira.-Portuguese rule:...
, the provincial capital city, and approximately 700 km South from Luanda
Luanda
Luanda, formerly named São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda, is the capital and largest city of Angola. Located on Angola's coast with the Atlantic Ocean, Luanda is both Angola's chief seaport and its administrative center. It has a population of at least 5 million...
, the country's capital city. The Concelho (municipality) was officially founded on 1857. It has approximately 160,000 inhabitants (statistics of 1983). In the 19th century, Caconda was the most advanced point in the colonial
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
territory of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in Africa.
There is also another populated place in Angola called Caconda, in the province of Huambo
Huambo
Huambo, formerly Nova Lisboa , is the capital of Huambo province in Angola. The city is located about 220 km E from Benguela and 600 km SE from Luanda. The city's last known population count was 225,268...
, and a river, in the province of Uige
Uíge
Uíge is a provincial capital city in northwestern Angola located in the province of the same name. It grew from a small market centre in 1945 to becoming a city in 1956.-Name:...
.
Caconda has a place in the history of zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
, because it was in this region that the great Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
naturalist and explorer José Alberto de Oliveira Anchieta
José Alberto de Oliveira Anchieta
José Alberto de Oliveira Anchieta was a 19th century Portuguese explorer and naturalist who, between 1866 and 1897, travelled extensively in Angola, Africa, collecting animals and plants...
(1833-1897) carried out the greater part of his work. He died in 1897 in Caconda, while returning from an expedition.
The Caconda region was severely affected by the Angolan Civil War
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
. It is an extremely poor area, with a more than 20% malnutrition
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is the condition that results from taking an unbalanced diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess , or in the wrong proportions....
rate and many families living on subsistence farming. A large number of people was displaced during the civil war. The United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
relief program and the World Food Program have been essential in addressing the humanitarian catastrophe.