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50 Biggest Cities of Africa in 1500 with a Map

With the help of a map, can you name the most populous cities in Africa with an estimated population of over 20,000 in 1500 AD?
Click on the map to zoom in.
Population figures are based off 3000 Years of Urban Growth by Tertius Chandler and Gerald Fox and 4000 Years of Urban Growth: An Historical Census by Tertius Chandler.
Both historical and modern-day names accepted.
Some of these cities do not exist anymore.
Quiz by Dekkie
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Last updated: January 15, 2023
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First submittedOctober 5, 2022
Times taken1,688
Average score24.0%
Rating4.73
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Population
City
400k
Cairo
130k
Fez
65k
Tunis
60k
Gao
60k
Oyo
50k
Fuwwah
50k
Kano
50k
Marrakech
40k
Béjaïa
40k
Constantine
40k
Ijebu-Ode
40k
M'banza Kongo
40k
Ngazargamu
40k
Nyeni
(Niani)
40k
Tagust
40k
Wogodogo
(Ouagadougou)
35k
Alexandria
35k
Asyut
35k
Axum
35k
Bida
35k
Ilé-Ifẹ̀
35k
Tlemcen
35k
Turunku
30k
Alkalawa
30k
Ceuta
Population
City
30k
Edo
(Benin City)
30k
Kilwa Kisiwani
30k
Meknes
30k
Oran
30k
Tripoli
30k
Zvongombe
25k
Azammur
25k
Damietta
25k
Mahdia
25k
Qus
25k
Rosetta
25k
Taza
25k
Timbuktu
20k
Agadez
20k
Algiers
20k
Dongola
20k
El Mahalla
20k
Jenne
20k
Kairwan
20k
Katsina
20k
Ngala
20k
Sennar
20k
Shadda
20k
Rao
20k
Tedsi
+3
Level 71
Oct 13, 2022
So interesting. It makes me want to know much more about some of these cities : why didn't they grow more, why they disappeared ...

Thanks !

+3
Level 55
Oct 13, 2022
While a lot of these cities still survive to this day (albeit perhaps not as important, or maybe even more important then 500 years ago), it's true that a lot of them were also seemingly abandoned and completely forgotten about. For cities like Tagust, Tedsi and Shadda I struggled trying to locate them.

Should also be noted that these are just estimates from one source and that there are conflicting reports (e.g. some sources put Kilwa's population at a mere 10k instead).

+2
Level 68
Oct 13, 2022
Wow, that was a niche quiz! Nice one!
+1
Level 55
Oct 13, 2022
Thanks!
+4
Level 66
Jan 15, 2023
For real. Dekkie's quizzes are in that category where you know you're going to fail, but still feel compelled to play them because of how well-made they are.
+1
Level 43
Jan 15, 2023
Please also accept "Djenné" and "Djenné-Djenno" for "Jenne".

Thanks!

+1
Level 55
Jan 15, 2023
Pretty sure this should already work.
+2
Level 66
Jan 15, 2023
Ayyy, I can see Lake Chad!
+3
Level 55
Jan 16, 2023
Rare occasion where it can be shown in full glory.