Mozambique Culture, and Mozambique History
Travel tips for your trip to Mozambique Hotel Maps Famous Places in Mozambique helps you to make your trip to Mozambique in the holiday a Splendid One
Bantu tribes moved into an area, part of which is now Mozambique, from central and west Africa during the third century. The 11th-century Shona empire, the main ethnic group in modern Zimbabwe, covered part of Mozambique; relations between the two peoples are still very close.
Mozambique attracted the attention of Arab and Indian traders in the 10th century. The first European expedition to Mozambique was led by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who arrived in 1498. Thereafter, Portuguese influence gradually displaced the Arabs and Indians. The Portuguese gradually moved inland, usurping the local rulers and taking over land and mineral resources.
In the 18th century, Mozambique became a major centre for the slave trade, which continued to thrive for decades after its official banning in 1842. By this time, Mozambique had become a Portuguese colony. This arrangement ended in 1932 after the takeover in Portugal by the fascist Salazar government. Thereafter, Mozambique was put under the direct control of Lisbon. In 1951, it became an 'overseas province'. The economy expanded rapidly during the 1950s and early 1960s, attracting thousands of Portuguese settlers to the country.
It was around this time that the first nationalist groups began to form. The main nationalist movement, FRELIMO, began a guerrilla war, which ended in 1974 following a military coup in Portugal. The new left-wing government in Lisbon had no wish to maintain an empire and negotiations on the country's independence began immediately. Mozambique became independent in 1975, and FRELIMO took power in a one-party state.
Then a 16-year-long civil war ensued. The National Resistance Movement (RENAMO), set up by the white-run Rhodesian government and then backed by apartheid South Africa and the US, fought a guerrilla war against FRELIMO from 1976 until the a ceasefire was brokered in 1992.
Elections were held in 1994 and won by FRELIMO. The new government was confronted with hundreds of thousands of refugees, as well as large numbers of demobilised soldiers from both sides, massive social and economic dislocation, and the destruction of virtually all health and education services.
Despite inevitable setbacks, the Chissano government made steady progress in tackling these problems during the late 1990s, and in 1999, FRELIMO prevailed once again.
2004 was a significant year for Mozambique, heralding the appointment of their first-ever female Prime Minister, former Finance Minister, Luisa Diogo. The priority now for Diogo and the Guebuza government is the state of the economy.
Mozambique attracted the attention of Arab and Indian traders in the 10th century. The first European expedition to Mozambique was led by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who arrived in 1498. Thereafter, Portuguese influence gradually displaced the Arabs and Indians. The Portuguese gradually moved inland, usurping the local rulers and taking over land and mineral resources.
In the 18th century, Mozambique became a major centre for the slave trade, which continued to thrive for decades after its official banning in 1842. By this time, Mozambique had become a Portuguese colony. This arrangement ended in 1932 after the takeover in Portugal by the fascist Salazar government. Thereafter, Mozambique was put under the direct control of Lisbon. In 1951, it became an 'overseas province'. The economy expanded rapidly during the 1950s and early 1960s, attracting thousands of Portuguese settlers to the country.
It was around this time that the first nationalist groups began to form. The main nationalist movement, FRELIMO, began a guerrilla war, which ended in 1974 following a military coup in Portugal. The new left-wing government in Lisbon had no wish to maintain an empire and negotiations on the country's independence began immediately. Mozambique became independent in 1975, and FRELIMO took power in a one-party state.
Then a 16-year-long civil war ensued. The National Resistance Movement (RENAMO), set up by the white-run Rhodesian government and then backed by apartheid South Africa and the US, fought a guerrilla war against FRELIMO from 1976 until the a ceasefire was brokered in 1992.
Elections were held in 1994 and won by FRELIMO. The new government was confronted with hundreds of thousands of refugees, as well as large numbers of demobilised soldiers from both sides, massive social and economic dislocation, and the destruction of virtually all health and education services.
Despite inevitable setbacks, the Chissano government made steady progress in tackling these problems during the late 1990s, and in 1999, FRELIMO prevailed once again.
2004 was a significant year for Mozambique, heralding the appointment of their first-ever female Prime Minister, former Finance Minister, Luisa Diogo. The priority now for Diogo and the Guebuza government is the state of the economy.
Religion:
Christian (mainly Roman Catholic), Muslim and Hindu. Many also follow traditional beliefs.