Later, when Portugal surrendered its colonies of Mozambique and Angola, there was a huge influx of Portuguese. Even African arrivees, many of whom came desperately seeking work, quickly shed their tribal identity for Jo'burg's cosmopolitan one. The size and nature of the population, including that of Soweto, is much debated, with estimates ranging from 3 to 5 million. Whatever the figure, Jo'burg is South Africa's largest city, and arguably the most important commercial hub on the continent. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange is one of the largest in the world, and though wealth remains concentrated in a few, mostly white hands, living standards are high.
American influence is prominent.
In the 1920s, African intellectuals, for example, were inspired by and emulated the Harlem Renaissance. Now, the rhythmic township music called Kwaito is a reinterpreted, Africanized version of U.S. hip-hop. Johannesburg's setting, though far less dramatic than Cape Town's rocky bluffs and white sand beaches, is nevertheless striking. Perched atop the high veld in the northeastern part of South Africa and sprawling over a fertile landscape, it is at an elevation higher than Denver's. It is full of colorful gardens and panoramic vistas of undulating hills.