Mozambique is a southern African nation whose long Indian Ocean coastline is dotted with popular beaches like Tofo, as well as offshore marine parks. In the Quirimbas Archipelago, a 250km stretch of coral islands, mangrove-covered Ibo Island has colonial-era ruins surviving from a period of Portuguese rule. The Bazaruto Archipelago farther south has reefs which protect rare marine life including dugongs.
Capital: Maputo, code: +258, Currency: Mozambican metical, President: Filipe Nyusi, Official language: Portuguese.
Culture
Mozambique’s culture is essentially African, with great predominance of Bantu culture. In urban areas there is a clear Portuguese influence. This influence dates back to the sixteenth century. Mozambique is also known for its traditional art. Mozambique was ruled by Portugal, and they share a main language (Portuguese) and main religion (Roman Catholicism). But since most of the people of Mozambique are Bantus, most of the culture is native; for Bantus living in urban areas, there is some Portuguese influence. Mozambican culture also influences the Portuguese culture. Mozambican food, music, movies (by RTP África), and traditions are now part of everyday lifestyles of Portugal.
The wooden sculpture and Makonde masks are famous. Other examples are the traditional music and dances of Mozambique, with instruments like the marimba and mbila of the Chope people.The best-known modern artists from Mozambique are the painter and poet Malangatana Ngwenya and the sculptor Alberto Chissano. Virtually all visitors of Mozambique know the sculptures of Chissano, because his work is exposed in the new terminal at Maputo International Airport.The cuisine of Mozambique is part of the culture of the country. Its is a tasty fusion of African, Oriental and European influences. The sea is a rich source of food, such as the famous – and gigantic – shrimps, lobsters, grouper, clams and more. The rich soil provides cassava, sweet potatoes, corn, peanuts, mangoes, papayas and coconuts. Curries are widely known in the Mozambique cuisine.
Food
The cuisine of Mozambique centres around fresh seafood, stews, corn porridge, rice, millet and cassava. Steak and chicken have commonly used meats and are often accompanied by beans, cassava chips, potatoes and coconut. The Portuguese colonial influence can be felt in spices like garlic and pepper.
The people of Mozambique use coconut milk often and enjoy incorporating peri, a local hot pepper into many dishes. Breakfast is a very simple and light meal as lunch is considered the main meal of the day.
Popular dishes include:
Matapa: This dish is usually served in southern regions and is made up of cassava leaves that have been cooked in a peanut sauce and are served with prawns or other fresh seafood.
Peixe Grelhade: This is the name given to the popular “catch of the day”.Lulas: Calamari is fried in a batter and is sometimes served stuffed or grilled.
Galinha Zambezia: This dish is made up of chicken cooked with lime sauce, and seasoned with garlic, peri and pepper. It is particularly popular in the Quelimane and Zambezia provinces.
Salada Pera de Abacále: This dish is very popular throughout the country. It is a salad made of avocado and tomatoes and is often served as an accompaniment to the main entree.
Pãozinho: Along with spices, the Portuguese influence in Mozambique can be felt in freshly baked bread which are sold piping hot every morning.
Borders
Mozambique borders Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Eswatini. Its long Indian Ocean coastline of 2,500 kilometers faces east to Madagascar. About two-thirds of its estimated 32 million (2021) people live and work in rural areas.
The country is endowed with ample resources of arable land, water, and energy, as well as mineral resources and newly discovered natural offshore gas; three, deep seaports; and a relatively large, potential pool of labor. It is also strategically located; four of the six countries it borders are landlocked and hence dependent on Mozambique as a conduit to global markets. Mozambique’s strong ties to the region’s economic engine, South Africa, underscore the importance of its economic, political, and social development to the stability and growth of southern Africa as a whole.
Flag
It is a tricolor flag with white fimbriations and a red triangle. Teal stands for the riches of the land, the white fimbriations signify peace, black represents the African continent, yellow symbolises the country’s minerals, and red represents the struggle for independence.
It includes the image of a Kalashnikov rifle with a bayonet attached to the barrel crossed by a hoe, superimposed on an open book. The rifle stands for defence and vigilance, the open book symbolises the importance of education, the hoe represents the country’s agriculture, and the star symbolizes the spirit of the international solidarity of the Mozambican people. It is one of four national flags among UN member states that feature a firearm, along with those of Guatemala, Haiti and Bolivia, but is the only one of the four to feature a modern firearm instead of cannons or muskets.
