Luanda’s topography has been in constant transformation since the earliest records. Changes to the island, the bay, and the wider coastline result from ongoing negotiations between water and land – a dialogue shaped by both natural processes and human intervention.
On the one hand, the city’s surface area has expanded through the displacement of sand by ocean currents and through landfill operations enabled by technology. On the other, the so-called calemas (seasonal ocean storms) frequently reverse this process, allowing water to reclaim land, particularly around the island.
This animation traces the shifting contours of Luanda’s coastline over centuries. The island’s apparent disappearance reflects gaps and inconsistencies in historical cartography, where the Ilha is not always represented; when it does reappear on maps, its position often shifts, revealing the instability and ambiguity of the city’s recorded geography.
This video was produced as part of Paulo’s research on Angola, with video editing and animation by Pedro Lino. It has been used to illustrate numerous lectures, presentations, and exhibitions focused on Luanda