High Commission of the Republic of Mozambique in London

Cultural Heritage

Traditional ways of life are well preserved in Mozambique - varying from province to province. This cultural kaleidoscope, provides visitors with a host of treasured experiences and memories.

The Makonde, from Cabo Delgado province in the north-east, are known for their fearlessness and initiation rituals. For male initiation, participants dance in ‘mapico’ masks. The body is tattooed and the teeth are sharpened purely for aesthetic purposes.

They are also accomplished craftmen, producing fine wood and ivory carvings.

Music is very important to Niassa people who live in the sparsely popular north-western region. They use wind instruments made from dry and hollowed calabashes which produce a similar sound to a trumpet. Musicians in a band play instruments of different sizes.

Makua women from Nampula province, paint their faces with “muciro”, a white, root extract. They also make straw baskets, mats and other articles as well as sculpture from ebony and clay.

The traditional, spicy cooking of Zambezia is highly regarded.

Zambezian chicken, grilled with palm oil, is a particular delicacy.

The agility of the Nhau dancers of Tete province is much admired. To the sound of resounding drum beats, they dance holding huge and frightening wooden masks.

For the Chope people of Inhambane province the “timbila” is both the name of a percussion instrument and a dance. The instrument is similar to a xylophone. During the timbila dance, 18 to 23 different sized instruments are played.

Mozambique:

the facts

Provinces