Since 1955 Africa has witnessed the most rapid urbanisation of all the continents, giving rise to cities that rival some of the greatest in the world in terms of size and population although sadly not infrastructure. Over history however cities have also provided the environments where economic, cultural, social and political renaissance have sprouted and it is in these great cities that Africa's future lies.
ClickAfrique brings you the ten most populous cities in Africa, based on data collated by the United Nations for 2005.
10) Kano, Nigeria (Pop: 3.0 Million : World Rank 105th) - Lying on the southern fringes of the Sahara, Kano is the largest city in the north of Nigeria. Kano originated as a terminal point of the Trans-Saharan trade routes which linked sub Saharan Africa to the Arab world during the middle ages. It later on grew into one of the famed Hausa city states, the 'Hause Bakwai' and since Nigeria's independence has a served as the capital of the Kano state.
=9) Cape Town, South Africa (Pop 3.1 million : World Rank 98th) - Cape Town's origins as a city can be traced back to the 17th century when Dutch sailors used it as a stop off point on sailing trips to the East Indies and established the first permanent European settlement in sub Saharan Africa. This area was originally populated by Cape Hottentots, but they were soon subsumed by the European migration and imported labour from other parts of Africa to form what is now known as the Cape Coloureds. Cape Town is one of the most popular destinations in South Africa today.
=9) Casablanca ('Dar El Beida'), Morocco (Pop 3.1 million : World Rank 97th) - In the popular imagination Casablanca is famed forever as the setting for Humphrey Bogart's memorable film also titled 'Casablanca'. It's history however can be traced back to the 7th century when the area was settled by Berbers, in the 15th and 16th century the Portuguese took control of the area and named it Casa Branca - White House or 'Dar El Beida' in Arabic. Casablanca today is the economic and commercial capital of Morocco.
8) Algiers ('El Djazair'), Algeria (Pop 3.2 million : World Rank 95th) - The history of Algiers stretches back to the Carthage empire and the Phoenicians who had an outpost called Ikosim in the area. The area changed hands many times before eventually being resettled during the Arab migration into North Africa during the 7th century and they named the area 'El Djazair' - The Islands, after the islands that dot the bay area. Today Algiers is the political and commercial capital of Algeria.
7) Johannesburg, South Africa (Pop 3.3 million : World Rank 92nd) - The commercial capital of South Africa and its largest city. Johannesburg's growth was spurred by the discovery of gold in the 1880's. It is also home to the famed suburb of Soweto (South West Township) the area that for many symbolised the struggle against the inhumanity of the Apartheid regime in South Africa. Today Johannesburg is a vibrant multicultural city a symbol of the new South Africa.
6) Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire (Pop 3.6 million : World Rank 79th) - Abidjan has long had a reputation as the most beautiful city in West Africa, it prospered during the years of stability Cote D'Ivoire enjoyed up to the recent civil war. Despite this setback it remains one of the main commercial hubs on the coast on the west African coast. Abidjan is the commercial capital of Cote D'Ivoire and was the political capital up to 1983 when political capital was moved, at least officially, to Yamoussoukro.
5) Alexandria ('Al-Iskandariya'), Egypt (Pop 3.8 million : World Rank 73rd) - Alexandria is probably one of the oldest permanently settled cities in the world. Founded by Alexandria the great in 334 BC, it lies in the fertile delta region where the river Nile meets the Mediterranean sea. Alexandria served as the capital of Egypt up to the creation of Cairo by the newly arrived Arab settlers in the 7th century.
4) Khartoum ('Al-Khartum'), Sudan (Pop 4.5 million : World Rank 54th) - Like many great cities around the world the story of Khartoum is the story of the river on which it lies, or in the case of Khartoum the two rivers. Khartoum lies on the confluence of the blue and white Niles where they meet to form the river Nile. The name Khartoum means 'Elephants Trunks' derived from the shape of the confluence. The city was established as a strategic staging point for the Egyptian army during its occupation of Sudan and became, and remains, the political and commercial capital of Sudan.
3) Kinshasa, Congo Democratic Republic (Pop 6.0 million : World Rank 40th) - An interesting fact about Kinshasa the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo is that is lies on the southern bank of the river Congo and directly opposite on the northern banks lies Brazzaville capital of the Republic of Congo. Kinshasa, warm, vibrant, humid and in addition to its role as the commercial and political capital, it's the epicentre of one of Africa's greatest music genres, producing artistes like Pepe Kalle, Papa Wemba and Kanda Bongo Man and music enjoyed across Africa.
2) Lagos ('Eko'), Nigeria (Pop 10.9 million : World Rank 17th) - The most populous city in Africa's most populous nation. Lagos is thought to have been originally founded as an outpost of the ancient Benin empire in the 16th century and was later renamed by the Portuguese traders as Lago de Kuramo, later shortened to Lagos. Lagos became the capital of the colony of Nigeria and remained so after independence until the political capital was moved to Abuja in 1991. Lagos still remains the commercial and economic capital of Nigeria.
1) Cairo ('Al-Qahirah'). Egypt (Pop 11.1 million : World Rank 16th) - Home to 15 percent of Egypt's population, Cairo the commercial and political capital of Egypt is Africa's most populous city. Although officially founded as a city in the 10th century the areas that form modern Cairo have been inhabited for many centuries before then as can be testified by the monuments from ancient Egypt which lie on the outskirts of Cairo, notably Pyramids and the Sphinx.