What African Capital Am I? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pretoria

Known as the "jacaranda city" for the thousands of jacaranda trees which every year in spring cover the city in a carpet of purple blooms, Pretoria is one of the three capital cities of the Republic of South Africa. Founded in 1855, the city is named after the Afrikaner leader Andries Pretorius and is the administrative capital of the country. The other two capitals are the legislative capital, Cape Town and Bloemfontein which is the judicial capital. The tradition of three capitals is one that dates back to the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910 and a compromise which was reached to pacify all members of the newly formed union. The city is situated in the northern part of Gauteng province and lies nestled in the foothills of the Magaliesberg Mountains along the banks of the Apies (Monkey's) river. It is the seat of the South African government and of the Presidency, both which are located in the Union Buildings as well as being home to the country's Reserve Bank. Most government departments are based here as is the foreign diplomatic corps.

The city is also known for its educational and academic institutions with, amongst others, the University of South Africa and the University of Pretoria being based in Pretoria. It is also home to a number of attractions for visitors which include the National Zoological Gardens, the Voortrekker Monument which is a national heritage site and the country's State Theatre.

Answer: Abuja

Abuja, the capital of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, holds the distinction being the first purpose built capital city in Africa. Along the lines of Canberra and Brasilia, Abuja was built to provide a neutral and acceptable capital for all of the diverse ethnic and religious groups within the country. Situated within the Federal Capital Territory in the centre of the country, Abuja replaced the overcrowded Lagos as Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991. Its location was also intended to attract economic growth to the interior of the country. The first plans to move the capital to Abuja were first conceived in 1976 with the majority of the construction work taking place in the 1980s. The city was designed by a consortium known as the International Planning Association and its most striking geological feature is Aso Rock, a large monolith which dominates the northern skyline. Now home to Nigeria's National Assembly, the country's Supreme Court as well as most of the foreign diplomatic corps, Abuja has experienced phenomenal growth since its construction and, by 2016, its population was estimated at around six million people.

As well as being the centre of both government and economic activity, the city boasts a number of attractions for the visitor including the Abuja Millennium Park, Aso Rock and the Abuja National Mosque.

Answer: Cairo

Also known as "Umm ad-Dunya" (the Mother of the World) to Egyptians, Cairo is the capital of the Arab Republic of Egypt. A sprawling megalopolis of some 16 million inhabitants, Cairo is the country's largest city and the centre of its political, cultural and economic life. In fact the importance to the country of the city is reflected in the name often ascribed to it by locals, "Misr", as this is also the name for the country of Egypt itself. The city lies on the Nile river just upstream from the start of the river's delta and the site has had strategic value since the times of Ancient Egypt. Although the founding of the present day city dates back to around 968, traces of earlier settlements can still be found in the area known as "Old Cairo".

The city covers an area of more than 453 square kilometres (around 175 square miles) and is bounded on three sides by the Sahara Desert while its northern flank is the fertile Nile Delta. The River Nile bisects the city and Tahir Square on the east bank is considered to be the centre of the downtown Cairo. Besides being the seat of government, Cairo is also the commercial and industrial centre of the country with most major manufacturing and industrial companies located within its boundaries. As can be expected from a city which has Cairo's history and heritage, it hosts many attractions for visitors. Among them are the Egyptian Museum, home to millions of artifacts including such priceless items as the Treasures of Tutankhamun. The city also serves as the gateway for visits to such sites as the Giza Plateau with its pyramid complex and the Valley of the Kings.

Answer: Kampala

Kampala is the largest city and capital of the Republic of Uganda. Situated in the south-eastern part of the country on the shore of Lake Victoria, the city is both the seat of government as well as the commercial heart of the country. Like Rome, Kampala was originally built on seven hills although today the growth of the city has meant that it sprawls far beyond the original hills. Kampala is one of the world's fastest growing cities and its population more than doubled between 2002 and 2014. It was the original site of the court of the 'Kabaka of Buganda', the 'kabaka' being the traditional kings of the Buganda nation which is one of the traditional kingdoms contained within modern day Uganda.

The name Kampala derives from the term "Akasozi ke' Empala" which means "hills of the impala" in the Lugandan language referring to the small antelope found in the area. The climate is divided into two periods, wet and dry as the climate is classified as tropical, with April, May and June being the wettest months. The city holds a number of attractions for the visitor including the Kasubi Tombs which are the traditional royal tombs of the Buganda. One of the iconic sites in Kampala is the green dome and majestic pillars of the Baha'i Temple on Kikaya Hill which is the faith's Mother Temple in Africa.

Answer: Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, which is also simply known as Addis, is the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia which is situated in north eastern Africa. The city's name means "new flower" in Amharic which is the country's official language. There is also a variant spelling of Addis Abeba which dates back to the Italian invasion of Ethiopia during the 1930s. The city is the country's largest with a population of over three million people. It was founded in 1886 by King Menelik, who would go on to become Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia. The site was chosen by the future empress Taytu Betul who built a house and compound there for herself and her court. The site expanded into a city and the empress's original house became the Imperial Palace which is still the seat of the Ethiopian government. The city was called Addis Ababa and it became the capital of Ethiopia when Menelik became emperor in 1889.

Addis Ababa lies at the foot of Mount Entoto on a highland plateau in the centre of Ethiopia and sits at 2300 metres (7500 feet) above sea level and is supplied by the waters of the Awash river which is one of the major rivers of Ethiopia. The city has been referred to as "the political capital of Africa" as it is home to the headquarters of both the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. It is both the political and economic hub of Ethiopia. The city has many attractions to offer the visitor including the National Museum, the National Palace and local markets such as the Mercato which is the city's main covered market.

Answer: Windhoek

Centrally located at almost the dead geographical centre of the country, Windhoek is the capital of the Republic of Namibia. The country's largest city, Windhoek, whose name means "windy corner" in Afrikaans, lies in a valley surrounded by four mountain ranges on the Khomas Highland plateau and sits at 1680m (about 5500 feet) above sea level. Windhoek is one of the smallest capital cities on the continent, but has experienced a rapid growth in recent years as people have moved from the more impoverished rural areas to the capital in search of work. The city is both the economic and political heart of the country with most government entities and economic institutions situated there. It has been estimated that the city provides over fifty percent of all non-agricultural employment in the country. It is also the centre of the country's thriving brewing industry.

After the original settlement that had been built on the site where Windhoek now stands had been largely destroyed in various hostilities and wars, the rebuilding of the city began in 1890 after the German colonisation of the territory now known as Namibia. The city centre today still has a distinctly Germanic feel to the architecture and the cuisine. While Windhoek normally acts as the gateway to the country for international visitors, the city also boasts a number of attractions of its own including the Alte Feste (Old Fort) which today houses the National Museum.

Answer: Gaborone

Gaborone or "Gabs" as it is referred to by the locals, is the capital of the Republic of Botswana. Gaborone is a planned city in the sense that it was deliberately chosen to be the capital when the Protectorate of Bechuanaland became the Republic of Botswana on independence in 1966. A new capital was necessitated by the fact that Mafeking, the Protectorate's administrative centre, lay across the border in South Africa. Gaborone was chosen for three main reasons. Firstly it was considered to be neutral territory as it had no known affiliation for any particular tribe. The second factor was its accessible location being both near to a railway line and to the South African border. The third factor and quite an important one in this arid country, was its closeness to an adequate water supply. The city lies on the Notwane River between the Kgale and Oodi Hills in the south eastern corner of Botswana. Gaborone, while still one of the smaller capitals on the continent, has experienced rapid growth since independence. In 1964, two years prior to independence, it had just under 4000 inhabitants. That has since expanded to over 300 000 making Gaborone the largest city in the country. This is quite a leap considering that Botswana only has a total population of just over two million people.

The city is named after Kgosi Gaborone, the leader of the Batlokwa people who moved into the area in the 1880s. The name literally means "it does not fit badly". Gaborone is both the political and economic capital and is home to the country's seat of government and its stock exchange. It also plays host to the Southern African Development Community. Despite its size Gaborone still provides a number of attractions for the visitor including the Sir Seretse Khama Statue, the National Museum and Art Gallery and, for the film buff, the set of the "No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" the film adapted from the best selling novel by Alexander McCall Smith which introduces Precious Ramotswe and is set in Gaborone.

Answer: Luanda

Luanda is the capital city of the Republic of Angola which is situated in west Africa. Besides being the largest city in the country, it is also the country's major seaport being situated on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. One of the fastest growing cities in the world, Luanda is also the industrial, commercial and political hub around which the country revolves. It has a population of over six million inhabitants and, courtesy of its colonial past, it is the largest Portuguese speaking capital city in the world, outstripping both Lisbon and Brasilia. Angola is Africa's second largest oil producing nation behind Nigeria and the growth of Luanda is testament to the importance of this industry. It has twice been named the world's most expensive city for expatriates to live.

Luanda was founded in 1576 as Sao Paulo de Assumpcao de Loanda by the Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novais and served as the centre of the slave trade to Brazil. The city continued to grow and by the time of Angola's independence from Portugal in 1975 was a modern vibrant city. However, the Angolan Civil War followed independence and during the period from 1975 to 2002, the city was extensively damaged and its infrastructure crumbled. Since the end of the war and with Angola's economy boosted by oil revenues, Luanda has been undergoing a major reconstruction program with large parts of the city being rebuilt and developed. It boasts a number of attractions for the visitor including the beautiful Bahia de Luanda with its promenade, the Fortress of San Miguel and the bustling Benfica market.

Answer: Nairobi

The capital of the Republic of Kenya, Nairobi is a city with a difference. It contains within its boundaries the Nairobi National Park,the only game reserve to be situated within a major city. The park is an area of some 113 square kilometres (70 square miles) and is famed for its black rhinoceros breeding program. It is small wonder that the city has acquired the title of "Green City in the Sun". Founded in 1899 by the British colonial authorities as a rail depot to service the east African railway, Nairobi replaced Machakos as the capital in 1907. When Kenya gained its independence in 1963 Nairobi retained its status as capital. The name Nairobi comes from the Maasai term "Enkare Nairobi" which means "cool waters". It is located along the banks of the river Athi in the southern central part of Kenya and borders the eastern edge of the Rift Valley while the Ngong Hills loom to the west. With a population of over 3.5 million, Nairobi is the economic and political hub of the country and is home to both government and commercial organisations. The Nairobi Securities Commission which is based in the city is the second oldest stock exchange on the African continent.

Besides the wonders to be seen within the Nairobi National Park, the city also boasts a number of other attractions for the visitor including the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, the Uhuru Gardens and the Gikomba Market which is the largest flea market in Kenya.

Answer: Rabat

Situated at the mouth of the Bouregreg River where it joins the Atlantic Ocean Rabat is the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco. In 2012 the city was awarded the status of World Heritage Site by UNESCO. One of the smaller cities to be designated a capital, Rabat is only the seventh largest city in the country. The name Rabat means "fortified place" in Arabic. Situated across the river is its sister town of Sale. Although the original city dates back to the 12th century, the modern day Rabat was planned and mainly built during the period when Morocco was a French Protectorate which began in 1912. It was the French administrator at the time who took the decision to move the capital from Fez to Rabat and a program of building commenced during which the Ville Nouvelle, Rabat's modern quarter, was constructed. When Morocco gained its independence from France in 1955, King Mohammed V decided to keep Rabat as the country's capital and the city is one of the four Imperial Cities of Morocco,

As the capital, Rabat is home to the parliament of Morocco and to most of the foreign diplomatic corps. Tourism also plays a large part in the city's economy and there are a number of attractions for the visitor to see including the Hassan Tower which dates back to 1195, the Kasbah of the Udayas and the beautiful Jardin d'Essais Botaniques, the city's historical botanical gardens.