Culture and history

The history of Mozambique is formed by the Indian Ocean: since the Middle Ages, the coast has been part of the Swahili trading world - Arab, Persian and Indian merchants created a stone city and mixed culture on the island of Mozambique.

In the 16th century, the Portuguese era began (Lourenço Marques is the current Maputo), leaving the language, Catholic missions and urban architecture. On June 25, 1975, the country gained independence; the 1977-1992 civil war ended with peace and multi-party elections, which laid down a modern identity.

The cultural landscape is multilingual: official Portuguese is adjacent to Emaqua, Sena, Shangana/Tsonga, Ndau, Makonde, etc.

Music - from urban marabenta to xylophone orchestras of the tonnimbil of the Chopi people; mystical masks and mapiko dance at makonde and festive "tufu" of Muslim communities are popular in the north.

In the visual arts, makonde carving and Maputo street school are known; the everyday aesthetic is a vibrant capulan fabric.

The cuisine relies on matapa (cassava leaves with peanuts and coconut), seafood and peripheries.

Festivities, film and music festivals, football and street art combine ocean heritage, Lusophone stratum and African roots into a dynamic modern culture.