The Lusosphere: Mozambique

Mozambique has a rich pre-colonial history that is worth reading, if you’re interested: Here.

But since the purpose of this series is to focus on the Portuguese discoveries, we shall immediately address the Colonial History of my birth country.

1497: Vasco da Gama arrives in Mozambique; more specifically in the Inhambane Province – to which he calls “Land of the good people” (since the natives were so welcoming).

1530-1544: The first Portuguese settlements were built in Sena; in Tete and in Quelimane (in the coast of the Indian Ocean), which took over the path between the mines and the ocean.

1600-1607: Portugal starts sending to Mozambique settlers that started getting married to the daughters of the local chiefs, thus creating powerful lineages (due to their commercial and agricultural ties).

Portugal had a hard time controlling Mozambique because this region was composed of 3 main empires:

The Empire of the Mwenemutapas (that were located at the South of the Zambezi River - between the Plateau of Zimbabwe and the Indian Ocean - and controlled a lot of mines, and the metallurgy of gold and iron).

The Empire of the Marave (located at the North of the Zambezi River; known for being a matrilineal society, for its agriculture and its organised army).

The Empire of Gaza (that covered the whole coastal area between the Zambezi and Maputo Rivers; and had its capital in Manjacaze [in what is today Gaza]. This empire controlled the commerce of ivory and did not engage in the commerce of slaves, like others did).

Meanwhile (during the XIX century), several European companies are established in Quelimane to buy peanuts, sesame and copra (to supply the new-born industries of oil and soap mainly). In the third quarter of the century, slavery is abolished (by royal decree) and, thus, Mozambique is transformed into a producer of goods (both for local consumption and exportation - to the metropolis). The British and the Dutch express (in the Berlim Conference - for the apportionment of Africa) the desire to take over the territory.

Portugal only takes absolute control of the nation, as a whole, in 1900 (after it fights against Gugunhana - the last Emperor of Gaza - for 6 years, since he did not sympathise with the Portuguese and, on top of everything, granted the rights to explore his mines to the British Company, base in South Africa.)

During the first ¾ of the XX century, Mozambique sees its natives being disrespected (ex: each recruited worker, by South African mines, had to give half of its salary [in gold] to the colony; they were not to profess animism any longer [the Catholic Church had task of educating the indigenous, i.e. assimilating them]; the natives were repressed while the poor citizens in the metropolis were encouraged to emigrate to Mozambique); it witnesses a mild industrialization; it goes through a liberation war (1964-1974); and it achieves its independence on the 25th of June of 1975 (under the rule of a communist leader - Samora Machel, that nationalised any and everything).

Most Portuguese citizens (and Mozambicans who didn't identify themselves with the new regime) migrated to Portugal, South Africa, Brazil and England.

1976-1990: Civil war.

(Train Station in Maputo)

Population

Mozambique has approximately 19,286,000 citizens (1999 data) - and its population growth rate is high despite the war, the natural disasters, endemic diseases and the epidemics. It is a multiracial nation where multiple religions are professed (being the most common: Catholicism, Anglicanism, Evangelism, Islamism, Hinduism and Animism), notwithstanding it is quite customary to resort to witchcraft (there isn’t one Mozambican family that hasn’t, at least, one witch – either by lineage or by “trade”).

Language

The official national language is the Portuguese. Other spoken languages are the Mozambican dialects: xiRonga (Maputo province); xiChangana (Gaza province); xiChope & biTonga (Ihambane province); xiSena (Beira province); eChuwabo (Quelimane); eMacua (Nampula, Nhakala, Mozambique Island) and kiSwahili (Cabo Delgado and Niassa).

Music

The national musical identity is the Marrabenta. This word derives from the Portuguese word "rebentar", meaning "to break" - a reference to guitar strings that snapped quickly (the instruments was made out of tin cans and pieces of wood).

Marrabenta is usually sung in xiRonga, although nowadays singers mix in the xiChangana, and its theme varies from social criticism to love. The most known Marrabenta singers are Fany Pfumo and Wazimbu (the purists, i.e. they sing in xiRonga only).

Nevertheless Mozambique also produces other traditional genres: Xigubu (warrior music/dance), Makwaela, and the Marimba (from Zavala – Ihambane Province).

Nowadays the nation also enjoys (and produces) Zouk, R&B, Jazz, Passada (a cousin of Kizomba), Kwaito (from South Africa), Kwasa-Kwassa (soukous) and Dzukuta.

This week, we will begin by listening to Wazimbu singing "Nwahulwana" (Night Bird). I had to ask my mother to translate this song for me, so that I could offer you a synopsis of the story he is telling:

“Maria is a beautiful young lady, who has a different man every night. So, Wazimbu asks "my sister, until when will you count men in the streets? If you continue like this, my darling, who will want to marry you?” And so he continues to express his sadness at her life style, and how she is wasting her life.”

Enjoy!

Next Stop: Brazil