Mozambique

(Republic of Mozambique, República de Moçambique)

General Information:

• Location: Southeastern Africa
• Capital: Maputo
• Language(s): Portuguese, Swahili, Makhuwa
• Population: 30,066,648
• Total Area: 801,590 sq km
• Currency: Mozambican Metical
• Curious Alcohol Fact: A large chunk of the beers and spirit consumed in the country is actually imported from the Republic of South Africa.
• Annual Average Liquor Consumption Per Capita: 2.54 liters
• Most Popular Drink(s): Mozambican tea (cha), locally-brewed beer (nippa), palm wine

Mozambique Travel Video

Travel Video Courtesy: MozambiqueTravels Youtube Channel

The Country

The nation of Mozambique is perched in the southeastern corner of the continent where it shares borders with Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Swaziland and South Africa. The eastern part of the country is bordered by the Indian Ocean. Mozambique gained independence in 1975 and is one of the few nations in Africa that were colonized by Portugal (Angola is another). The capital city is Maputo and is located in the southernmost region of the country. Across the Indian Ocean is the island nation of Madagascar but both are separated by the Mozambique Channel. On the coast of the country are some of the finest harbors on the continent, and shipping activities contribute greatly to the economy of the country.

The People

Like is the case with many African nations, Mozambique is a multiethnic society. Some of the largest ethnic groups are the Macua, Shona, Sena, Shangaan and Swahili. Others include the Yau, Makonde, Ngoni and the Tonga. Around two-fifths of the population are Christians while almost a fifth are Muslims. Others are either worshippers of the traditional African religion or atheists. Portuguese is the official and the most popular language as it is spoken and understood by half of the population. Many of the citizens are into subsistence or commercial farming, fishing and other similar activities. One of the most popular Mozambicans is Maria Mutola, the queen of the track and known all over the globe for her powerful 800m races which earned her the nickname ‘Maputo Express’, and funny enough, she was born in Maputo, the capital city.

Eating

One thing that will surely leave you dazed and dazzled in Mozambique is the sheer variety and diversity of the food. Unfortunately, space will not allow the discussion of every single dish but some will be mentioned. Most of the meals are made from corn, fresh seafood (especially in the coastal or riverine areas), rice, millet and cassava. One food (or maybe snack) that I really enjoyed during my stay in the country is the prego rolls, made with steak. You can lay your hands on these delicacies at virtually any eatery in the country. Also, for vegetarians, there is plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables all year round and they are sold at prices that you will surely find very affordable.

Drinking

If you are in the country and you get thirsty, there is nothing to worry about as there is more than enough to drink. The national beer is called Dois and is sold in many bars and restaurants. There are also various brands from neighboring countries like South Africa and Namibia, and a very good example is the Castle beer which is imported from South Africa. For those who want to go local and connect with the roots, there is palm wine and a locally-made brew called nippa.

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Special thanks to our contributors:
Daniel Krasnopolsky (Woodmere, NY, USA)
Adebayo Ahmed Adebola (Ilorin, Nigeria).