Cosmopolitan Africa

So Africa is all doom, gloom and civil war, right? Not so? here's where to celebrate urban Africa and submerge yourself in some of the world's most surprising cities.

Kampala, Uganda
Unexpectedly sophisticated, diverse and globally aware, Kampala pulled itself up by its bootstraps after Idi Amin wrecked it with civil war. Now its economy is a continental tiger, and the city sports a contagious buzz and bustle. Modern buildings have popped up all over the place and old, dilapidated ones are being renovated. The young, forward-thinking vibe is spurred by Makerere University, which remains a top centre of learning in Africa; its students drive the energetic nightlife scene. Kampala?s sizable Asian population adds an international dimension.

Windhoek, Namibia
Guys in lederhosen clink steins of sweet beer, juicy slow-cooked sausages scent the air, and oompah bands get the crowd dancing like chickens. Sounds, smells and tastes like Oktoberfest in Deutschland, right? Actually, we?re thousands of miles away in Windhoek, Namibia?s small capital, and an odd outpost of German culture left over from colonial days. The prosperous, garden-filled ambiance differs radically from Africa?s other towns, and Windhoek remains the continent?s only place to carve into an authentic schnitzel.

Mindelo, Cape Verde
Set around a moon-shaped port, Mindelo is Cape Verde?s answer to the French Riviera, complete with cobblestone streets, candy -coloured colonial buildings, yachts bobbing in the harbour and cigarette-smoking celebrities such as Cesaria Evora calling the place home.

The steamy days are given over to cafιs where locals indulge in a glass of beer, read the newspaper and buy their lottery tickets. The sultry nights hot up around 11pm, when the townsfolk pour out into the main plaza, bands fire up the Latin rhythms, and the all-night bumping and grinding begins.

Antananarivo, Madagascar
Cheerily-coloured Tana (the city?s less tongue-tying nickname) is perhaps Africa?s most un-African city. Cobbled streets wind up steep, rocky hills past wooden houses with painted shutters. Purple jacaranda trees blaze to life and rain nectar onto the heads of skipping children and strolling couples. Church spires soar skyward. Tearooms brim with tea, coffee, hot chocolate and cream-plumped pastries. Come night-time, residents swarm out to hear jazz at the local cabarets or get down to Malagasy chart hits at the clubs.

Dakar, Senegal
Raw, chaotic and utterly electrifying, Dakar epitomizes urban Africa. It shines brightest at night ? late at night, well beyond midnight. That?s when the city?s devoted, music-loving public suit up in their gladdest rags and make a beeline to the nightclubs of Youssou N?Dour or Thione Seck, international stars who rock locally when they?re not touring the world, or any of a hundred other clubs. As the percussive rhythms and swooping vocals gain momentum throughout the wee hours, the Dakarois shake, shimmy and sweat until sunrise.

Accra, Ghana
It?s the weekend and time to go to a beach party in Ghana?s seaside capital. The stars glitter over the palm-fringed sand. The sound of waves rolling in from the Atlantic can be heard beneath the throbbing reggae music that the DJs spin. Party-goers chow down on fried plantain chunks sprinkled with salt, ginger and cayenne pepper, and cool down with a Guinness. It?s Africa at its easiest, mon.

Libreville, Gabon
Hoist a glass of French champagne and toast this city that resembles Miami Beach more than a major African capital. High-rise hotels ascend from the Atlantic-kissed beaches, glassy office buildings wheel and deal oil, fl ashy cars speed down the wide boulevards, and a sharp-dressed crowd fills the fancy shops and restaurants. Just to prove the point, prices are big-time cosmopolitan as well: Libreville is one of the world?s most expensive cities. The hard-partying locals try to forget the fact by getting together for a beer or the aforementioned champagne.

Marrakesh, Morocco
The city?s name conjures exotic images of snake charmers, fire-eaters and magic-carpet sellers. And indeed, they?re here, enchanting carnival-like crowds in the old town?s square. But just one shaded boulevard away is Gueliz, the Art Deco new town that resembles a mini Paris (if orange trees were perfuming the Champs Elysιes). Well-coiffed matrons walk their dogs along the streets, couples sip cafι au lait at breezy bistros, and mobile-phone-mad youth queue for the latest Hollywood blockbusters at the neon-lit cinema.

Maputo, Mozambique
Tropical enough to be in Brazil, colonial enough to be on the Mediterranean, Maputo mashes it up to make one of the continent?s most happy-go-lucky cities. By day folks swill espresso at sidewalk cafιs, by evening they toss down spicy tiger prawns at beachside restaurants, by night they slurp caipirinhas (sugarcane-based brandy, lime, sugar and ice) to pumping salsa and jazz at the bars. Palmy sunbathing beaches, flame-tree-lined avenues and myriad markets round out the picture, which is particularly exceptional given Maputo?s recent war-torn past.

Alexandria, Egypt
This confident Mediterranean city of cafιs and promenades has drawn Alexander the Great, Caesar and Napoleon, among other luminaries. Perhaps, like today?s inhabitants, they enjoyed sauntering down the Corniche, the long curving sea-front, to enjoy the cool breezes. Or maybe they wanted to soak up a place as steeped in literature as it is tea. Once home to the world?s greatest library, Alexandria rises again with its sleek, modern recreation of the classical repository, which has reading rooms stepped over 14 terraces and a vast rotunda with space for eight million books.

(πηγή: travel.iafrica.com, 5/3/2008)