Mozambique - The Culture

Traditional ways of life are well preserved in Mozambique culture - 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. The Makonde are also accomplished craftsmen, producing fine hardwood - mainly mahogany, ebony or ironwood - and ivory carvings which often depict the stories of earlier generations. Music is part of the culture of Mozambique and is very important to the Niassa people who live in the sparsely populated 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 sculptures from ebony and clay

The traditional, spicy cooking of Zambézia, Mozambique is highly regarded. Zambézian 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 dance, up to 23 different sized instruments are played. The Chope also use the “mbira”, made of strips of metal attached to a hollow box and plucked with the fingers.