MOZAMBIQUE

Area

801.590 Kmq

Mortalità infantile

140 per 1.000

(Fonts - population, annual growth, life expectancy, infant mortality, imports and exports: The World Factbook 2000, www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook - GNP per capita: UNDP, Human Development Report 2000, Oxford 2000 - other infos: Instituto del Tercer Mundo, Guya del mondo 1999/2000, Montevideo 1999) www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook

HISTORY

A prosperous meeting point of centuries-old cultures, at a very early date Mozambique came under the sphere of interest of the Portuguese, who suffocated and impoverished the country, subjecting and reducing it, over the centuries, to a source of labour for the South African mines. In 1963, the newly created Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) began a bloody struggle for independence which led to the proclamation of the Popular Republic in 1975, with a Marxist-Leninist orientation. The politics of the new state soon gave support to revolutionary movements in neighbouring countries (Zimbabwe), thus entering into conflict with South African imperialism, which for its part supported the main Mozambican reactionary terrorist movement (RENAMO). This was the beginning of a devastating civil war, destined to end only in 1992. On the economic front, especially thanks to Samora Machel, Mozambique initially undertook a massive effort of investment in agriculture and industry, which was wholly nationalized; in time, however, it was adjusted to a mixed system (public/private) and open to foreign investment: this coincided in 1989 with abandoning every reference to Marxist ideology. The mainly agricultural economy of Mozambique is still devastated by the effects of the war, as well as the recurrent alternating catastrophes of floods and famine. The population is made up of various ethnic groups, all of Bantu origin: the most numerous are the Makondé, with a very vital cultural expression, ranging from the figurative arts (their masks are famous) to music and complex initiation rites.

ETNIE

• MAKONDE
• SHANGANE

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ARECCHI, Mozambico, Bergamo: Cesvi, 1996

NEWITT M., A history of Mozambique, London : Hurst, 1995

ANGIUS M. - ZAMPONI M., Ilha de Mocambique. Incontro di popoli e culture, Aiep 1999

GIACOPETTI M., Mozambico e Africa australe, Gremese Editore 2000

Página de Moçambique

MUSIC

DIAS M., Instrumentos MUSICis de Moçambique, Lisbona: Instituto de investigaçao cientifica tropical 1986

DUARTE R., A MUSIC e o nomen, Maputo: Instituto nacional do livro e do disco [s.d.]

ITALIAN NGO IN MOZAMBICO

CUAMM, HUMANA, PROSUD, ACAV, CCS, VISES, CESVITEM, ISCOS, MOLISV, AIFO, AISPO, CIES, COOPI, MSF, PROSVIL, SENIORES, UPD, VOGLIO VIVERE, CIC, COME NOI, MANI TESE, ALISEI NF, COSV, ANL, ITER, CMSR, DISVI