Nampula


Nampula is the capital city of Nampula Province in northeastern Mozambique. Also known as "The Capital of the North", Nampula is the centre of business in northern Mozambique. It has several western-style hotels, restaurants and shopping centres. It also has a small international airport connecting to Nairobi in Kenya and Johannesburg in South Africa, and is a transport hub for local transport in northern Mozambique.
With a population of 743,125, it is the third largest city in Mozambique after Maputo and Matola. Nampula is also home to the Mozambique National Ethnographic Museum, several markets, cathedrals, mosques, universities and schools: both government and private. The city is also fairly diverse, with the native eMakhuwa population being the largest group but with a visible Indian, European, Chinese, and Lebanese population.

Etymology

The name "Nampula" is said to be derived to the eMakhuwa word "Whampula", which according to legend refers to a tribal leader of the area in the past.

Administration

Nampula is divided into seven administrative zones, which are also subdivided into localities, as follows:
Ever since the establishment of the city, Nampula has had numerous mayors:

Demographics

Religion

Nampula's dominant religions are Christianity and Islam. A small community of Hindus are also present in the city. Its Cathedral of Our Lady of Fatima is the archiepiscopal see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nampula.

Notable locals

, a Portuguese football player, and Carlos Queiroz, a Portuguese football manager formerly in charge of Real Madrid, were also from Nampula, at that time a city of the Portuguese Overseas Province of Mozambique.

Education

The city is home to the Faculty of Health Science, Universidade Lurio. In 2009 a course in optometry was launched, the first of its kind in Mozambique. The course is supported through the Mozambique Eyecare Project. The other partners include the Dublin Institute of Technology, University of Ulster and Brien Holden Vision Institute.
There is a Portuguese international school, Escola Lusófona de Nampula, as well as four international English-medium schools, with the most notable being Stella Maris International School.

Transport

The city of Nampula lies in the centre of the province of Nampula and is surrounded by plains and rocky outcrops. The city lies amongst rolling hills and mountains, typical of the interior of northern Mozambique.

Climate

Nampula has a tropical savanna climate.

Gallery