Local traditions and culture in Mozambique

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The current Mozambique flag was officially adopted on May 1, 1983. It consists of three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle on what is called the ‘hoist’ side. The Green colour stands for agriculture, Red sybolises the struggle for independence, White denotes peace and Yellow denotes mineral wealth. The central Black strip represents the African continent. The official emblem of Mozambique is displayed on the red triangle. In the centre of the triangle is a five-pointed star bearing a crossed AK-47 rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book The crossed gun and ploughshare symbol is an influence of the Marxist FRELIMO party.

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A lot of art in Mozambique seems to require weapons. Land mines, machine guns and hand guns all add to the lethal mix. This is rather disturbing when you keep seeing this art in many places. Oddly this unique art style has a positive purpose. When the massive civil war ended here in 1992 there were between 400,000 and 5 MILLION landmines scattered across the country. Add in a million arms from pistols to the ubiquitous AK-47 and you have some real issues with ‘Peace’. In 1995 Bishop Dom Dinis Sengulane came up with the idea of the TAE (Transformaçaõ de Armas en Enxadas) or ‘Transformation of Arms into Plows’ programme. Starting with 14 artists his aim was to try and get these weapons handed in. The original 14 taught others to weld and sculpt killing machines into interesting and unusual shapes and even mundane items like chairs. The idea took off.

Today the TAE has 10 collection centres and have collected an estimated 700,000 rifles, handguns, grenades, landmines, rockets and machine guns. People bringing in weapons are given useful items to help rebuild like cement and zinc sheets. If the weapon is in full working condition the person bringing it in receives more in return. Working weapons are either destroyed or permanently disarmed and then the creativity begins.

If you do come across any weaponry on your travels do not even thing of picking it up or carrying it. People still lose arms, legs and their lives here. Don’t join the large numbers of victims.

Ever wonder why some countries have Embassies and some have High Commissions? A High Commission (with the attendant High Commissioner) means that the country is a member of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth was the Former British Commonwealth that was formed by nations that where former British Colonies and Possessions before individual dates of Independence. In addition to being former colonies they have many things in common like the English language and driving on the left-hand side of the road. So why is there a British High Commission in Maputo?

Because Mozambique became the Commonwealth's 53rd member (and the first not to have once been associated with the British Empire) in November 1995. Mozambique, despite being a Portuguese speaking former colony of Portugal, had long been interested in Commonwealth membership. They had to gain the agreement of all the other members at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in New Zealand in 1995.

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Rondovals are round houses with thatch roofs. Across Mozambique you will see authentic all-thatch Rondovals. They are small and without walls inside. They remain cool because of the large openings and shade they provide. Properly made thatch can survive even the wettest rains and still stay dry inside.

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mcel is the most popular Cell Phone company in Mozambique.

Giro is the name for the credit recharges that are easily found in the streets of Maputo, for instance.

All mcel phone numbers start with 82 and have a 9-digit number.
Example: 82 xxx xxxx.

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Beer 2M is doing a contest among its costumers. Four trips are available to watch in Portugal the Benfica x Sporting football match.

Both Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Sporting Clube de Portugal are two major football (soccer in the USA) teams from Lisbon, Portugal's capital.

I'm sure the fact that the Portuguese Football League is close followed by general Mozambican citizens has originated 2M's marketing department to come up with is contest.

Four 2-person trips are to be given away.

To participate consumers over 18 years old do only need to gathered 3 bottle tops (one with the word 2M, other whit a airplane, and a third one with a ball), put those 3 bottle tops inside an envelope, fill the form of the envelope, and place it inside the 2M boxes that are available in all on-premise beer point-of-sales. And that's it !!! (Envelopes are providing by the on-premise beer point-of-sale, aka bares & restaurants).

The bottle tops combination is: 2M + Airplane + Football.

The contest runs until January 10, 2007. The draw is on January 18, 2007.
And the Benfica x Sporting match is on April 29, 2007.

Mozambique - all of its 2,500 km (approx. 1,550 miles) Sea Coast borders with the Indian Ocean.

After the Atlantic (nearby my home village) and the Pacific (in 1998), the Indian was the third Ocean that I personally got the privilege to swim in (in 2006).

---- from Wikipedia ---
"The Indian Ocean is the third largest body of water in the world, covering about 20% of the Earth's water surface".

All along the roads in rural areas you see goods for sell from firewood (pictured) to fruit, carvings, cashew nuts and something that looks like coloured local firewater. Don't worry that you do not see anyone attending the "store". Even slowing down seems to produce at least one person and usually 5-6 inquisitive children. Cashews are roasted and unsalted. They are absolutely delicious. Like any good roadside market, you have to bargain!