Travel Guide Malanje

Malanje, who gave his name to the Province, is located less than 400 km east of Luanda. The city was founded in 1852 by Portuguese settlers. It was connected by train to the capital in 1909 and again in 2012 after almost twenty years of interruption. The railway contributed significantly to the development of this agricultural region throughout the first half of the th century, largely leading to cotton production. The fertile land of the plateau allows the opening of an open air market in the city. Agricultural recovery projects started in 2004. The Malanje region is sadly famous for the massacre of Grévistes strikers in the Baixa da Kassange by the colonial army on 4 January 1961. This dramatic event is one of the first moments of the long war for independence. However, 4 January is no longer a national holiday since 2012, despite the protests of the sons and survivors of cotton workers and a large majority of the population of that region.The city celebrates every year on February 13 with a festival of traditional music and dance.Malanje (at 1 300 m), in the pleasant climate all year round, is an excellent "base" to discover this region rich in natural sites and offering several excursions of great interest.