Maputo — African City of Culture?
Following on from my exploration of Namibian cities, and my promise to continue the expedition of “uncelebrated” cities (or towns if you prefer), I present Maputo as the next candidate.
I have long pondered over this city since my encounter with “one of the finest smooth jazz tunes of all time,” Maputo, which featured in the Grammy winning album ‘Double Vision’ by Bob James & David Sanborn — released in 1986.
Here are a few credits — Marcus Miller (bass), wrote the song — along with Steve Gadd (drums), Paul Jackson Jnr. (guitars) — Masterfully produced by Tommy LiPuma.
Before I get ahead of myself on the “Sounds of Maputo”, here’s some historical/ geographical context.
Welcome to Mozambique
According to the United Nations Conference and Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 2015 Report, “Creative economy outlook and Country profiles: Trends in international trade in creative industries,” while Mozambique’s creative industries exports decreased from US$97 million in 2003 to US$1.3 million in 2012, imports doubled over the same period — With US$140.8 million of imports for 2012, Mozambique had a negative trade deficit of US$139.5 million in 2012.
Music, Performing Arts and Audio Visuals are the best performing sectors that grew between 2003 and 2012.
There are at least 14 cities with a population of over 100,000 — from Maputo (approx. 1.2 million), Matola (0.67 million), Beira (0.53 million) to Pemba (0.1 million).
The BMP — Beira, Maputo and Pemba
Although BMP seems catchy, the focus of this post remains primarily on the “M” for a good reason. However, in the interest of those just getting acquainted with Mozambique — including myself, a brief introduction to Beira and Pemba is provided.
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/mozambique/northern-mozambique/pemba
Beira is the capital and largest city of Sofala Province, where the Pungwe River meets the Indian Ocean, in the central region of Mozambique. It is the fourth-largest city by population in Mozambique, after Maputo, Matola and Nampula. Beira had a population of 397,368 in 1997, which grew to 530,604 in 2019. As a coastal city, it holds the regionally significant Port of Beira, which acts as a gateway for both the central interior portion of the country as well as the land-locked nations of Zimbabwe and Zambia.
With a population of 201,800 (2017) spread over a geographical area of 7.641 sq miles, Pemba has been described by Lonely Planet as “The gateway to the North” of Mozambique. Pemba is a port city in Mozambique. It is the capital of the province of Cabo Delgado and lies on a peninsula in Pemba Bay. The town was founded by the Niassa Company in 1904 as Porto Amélia, after the Queen of Portugal, at the peninsula’s southwestern tip and has grown around a port. The city is renowned for its Portuguese colonial architecture. It was renamed Pemba at the end of Portuguese rule, in 1975. In the centre of Pemba, there is an authentic local market or souk, where arts and crafts, as well as traditional silverware can be bought. Pemba is the closest major city and airport for those who wish to visit the Quirimbas Islands and Quirimbas National Park.
Maputo, formerly (until 1976) Lourenço Marques, port city and capital of Mozambique. It lies along the north bank of Espírito Santo Estuary of Delagoa Bay, an inlet of the Indian Ocean. Maputo derived its former name from the Portuguese trader who first explored the region in 1544. The town developed around a Portuguese fortress completed in 1787. Created a city town in 1887, it superseded the town of Moçambique as the capital of Portuguese East Africa in 1907.
Maputo and Culture
Maputo is internationally renowned for its artists and musical scene. Africa is Mozambique’s leading export market with a share of 80 per cent, followed by Europe (11 per cent) and Asia (8 per cent). Angola, South Africa, Cape Verde, United Republic of Tanzania and United Arab Emirates are Mozambique’s main trade partners for creative goods in 2012.
Described as a lush capital by TripAdvisor, Maputo sits on the shore of the Indian Ocean. Founded as a port town by the Portuguese, the influence of travelers and traders from Africa, Asia, and Europe, has made the city a diverse and lively metropolis. The area is famous for its prawns in “peri-peri sauce” — a spicy concoction made from an especially hot African chili pepper. Calm down your taste buds afterwards with a beer at one of the many bars and nightclubs in the Fere de Populare neighborhood.
Maputo is also the home of “Marrabenta”. A description of the sound system goes as follows:
Marrabenta is a popular style of Mozambican dance music combining traditional Mozambican dance rhythms with Portuguese folk music. It was developed in Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique, during the 1930s and 1940s.
Closing thoughts
Although there are other cities of interest in Mozambique, Maputo is my far the most popular and populous. Watch “Fourplay” & “David Sanborn” play MAPUTO on YouTube
Let’s here it for the cities (26 of them)
Maputo (1,191,613); Matola (675,422); Beira (530,604); Nampula (388,526); Chimoio (256,936); Nacala (224,795); Quelimane (188,964); Tete (129,316); Xai-Xai (127,366); Maxixe (119,868); Mandimba (118,922); Ressano Garcia (110,000); Lichinga (109,839); Pemba (108,737); Dondo (78,648); Antonio Enes (74,624); Inhambane (73,884); Cuamba (73,268); Montepuez (72,279); Chokwe (63,695); Chibuto (59,165); Ilha de Mocambique (54,315); Mutuali (30,523); Mocimboa (27,909); Macia (23,156); Chinde (16,500).
The city of Pemba’s inhabitants are primarily Swahili, Makondes, Macuas and Mwanis. Local languages that are spoken are Kimwani and Macua, although Portuguese is widespread. Pemba is also renowned as being a prime destination for water sport and diving enthusiasts as a coral reef lies close to the shore. It has increasingly become a tourist destination, particularly for upper-middle-class Mozambicans and South Africans. There are now 5 flights a week from Johannesburg to Pemba, several hotels, restaurants, and other forms of entertainment.
