BENGUELA

also spelled Benguella, formerly So Filipe De Benguela, city, western Angola. The city was founded in 1617 around So Filipe fortress and was one of the bases for Portuguese expansion in Africa. Benguela is the political and economic coordinating centre for the activities of the hinterland to the east and is linked by rail with Congo (Kinshasa) and Zimbabwe. It exports agricultural products, although most foreign trade is handled by Lobito, 18 miles (29 km) north. Benguela's local industries include sugar milling, fish processing, and the manufacture of soap, tools, and pottery. Government Hall and the Mombaka Hotel are the dominant buildings. Coffee, corn (maize), tobacco, sugarcane, and sisal are grown in the agricultural hinterland, and deposits of manganese are situated to the south of the city. Pop. (1983 est.) 155,000.