Mozambique’s Art and Culture

Mozambique’s Art and Culture
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Mozambique's Art and Culture
Mozambique was colonized by Portugues and thus exhibited a lot of Portuguese culture in the urban areas. However, in rural areas, Bantu culture is depicted. Further, the main ethnic groups in Mozambique are Makhuwa, Tsonga, Makonde, Shangaan, Shona, Sena, and Ndau. The majority of people in Mozambique are Christians, specifically Roman Catholic, Muslim, and other indigenous religions. The primary language is Portuguese, but English is spoken in Urban areas like Maputo. Generally, Mozambique's culture is essentially African, with Bantu being dominant. 
Moreover, Mozambique is known for its traditional art, wooden sculptures, and Makonde Mask. Additionally, Mozambique is best known for its arts which serve different purposes. Musical instruments are usually handmade with wood or animal skin. In addition, music serves different purposes, including religion and other traditional ceremonies. Other traditional music and dance include the Marimba and Mbila of the Chope people. Makonde people are known for wood carvings, while the best-known contemporary artist Malangatana Ngweya is the painter and Chissano, the poet. Further, Mozambique is characterized by dancing traditions that vary from one tribe to another. For instance, men of the Makua tribe dress in colorful attires and masks while dancing in the village, while women in the northern parts dance Tufo to celebrate Islamic holidays (MOZAMBIQUE EMBASSY WASHINGTON DC). 
Cuisines
Mozambique is adorned with allay of food, both local traditional and influenced by the outside world. Generally, Mozambican food is a combination of African fusion food and European and Oriental influences. Spicy stews are typically eaten with rice to reflect Arabic origin. They are a source of seafood such as prawns, lobster, and clams. Matapa, a famous cassava meal, is a traditional meal without Portuguese fusion. Films and Literature
Like in every society, film and literature are a reflection of our day-to-day life. For instance, Paulina Chiziane was highly associated with being a political and feminist writer even though she was trying to show the place of a woman in Mozambique. In addition, songs in Mozambique are in Portuguese and highly rated in their work. Music is highly valued in Mozambique. They have a three-day workshop to celebrate music. AZGO Festival is celebrated annually open-air music festival is held in Maputo over three days in May, bringing together local and international bands performing for several attendees. Workshops, musical documentaries, and craft and fashion shows take place against a background of street food and drink stalls. Notably, other holidays such as Chopi Music Festival, are celebrated to mark traditional dances.
Paulina Chiziane 
Paulina Chiziane was the first Mozambican woman to publish a novel. In 2021, she was awarded the Camões Prize, an award established for Portuguese-speaking countries. Even though her writing started casually as a social discus...