Kigali << kee GAH lee >> is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. About 1 million people live there. It lies in the center of the country on a plateau about 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) above sea level.
Kigali serves as Rwanda’s chief market center. Traders from many parts of the country travel to Kigali to sell their goods. Modern hotels and government and embassy buildings rise above the downtown area. Through the years, large numbers of rural Rwandans have moved to Kigali in search of jobs. However, employment opportunities and good low-cost housing in the city are limited. As a result, many people suffer from poverty and live in slums.
Kigali developed as a trading center for caravans during the early 1900’s. Rwanda, which had been ruled by Belgium, became independent in 1962. Since then, Kigali has grown from a small administrative and commercial center to a crowded city.
