About Mozambique Mozambique is our specialty! Wed like to share with you a few stories about this beaufitul countrys history, its people and its culture. Also, wed like to give you a few words of advice before you can come to see it for yourself. Below is a selection of articles we have for you to wet your appetite; use the polaroids above to navigate through everything else! Makonde The Makonde began on the Mueda Plateau in Mozambique and have since spread to the Nwala Plateau of Tanzania and some as far as Kenya. They are known as peoples of the plateau. Rich in musical and visual arts traditions, the Makonde enjoy significant international recognition for exceptional artistry and their vivid traditions which have endured. A different society In Mozambique, the Makonde are also well-known for their prominent sense of independence and self-determination. It was the Makonde who began the liberation struggle in the 1960’s. Several traditions set the Makonde apart from other African societies. The Makonde is a matrilineal society, where families trace their origins via the mother. Authority is not “chieftanship” based; the Makonde are governed by the litawa, or family unit. Legendary beginnings Legends tell us the Makonde have their origins in a carving created by a man living in the bush near the Ravuma river. The man sat the carving upright and the next day it had come to life as a woman who became his wife. The couple was unable to bear living children until they had moved away from the lowlands and onto the plateau. According to this legend, the children of this couple became the first Makonde. Mapiko dance Dance also plays a vital role in the culture of the Makonde, and if you get the chance to observe a ceremonial dance, do not miss it. The Mapiko is a renowned dance restricted to male participants who are covered in elaborate costumes from head to toe. A Mapiko mask is used for this disguise, and the resulting combination is an apparition in which the men remain unrecognizable. Drums beat bringing lihokas - or spirits – back to life. Mapiko is performed at the end of the Jando initiation ceremonies for boys, and other important Makonde ceremonies. During the boys’ initiation, the mask is lowered and the Mapiko is revealed as a mere man, divulging the secrets of manhood. Women and children remain unenlightened and are often greatly intimidated by the Mapiko dancers. For the girls after their Chiputu initiation, the Mdimu is performed. Tattoos - “I am a Makonde” The Makonde word for tattoo is dnembo and it means design or decoration. In traditional society, Makonde men and women are decorated with tattoos all over their bodies. The process takes months to complete and usually requires three sessions in which the “client” is restrained during treatment. It takes courage and not everyone manages, resulting in ridicule for those who fail. Traditional designs can be tribal specific and/or serve individual purposes such as the need to display, to attract a partner or to ward off evil spirits or sickness. Wood carvings Wood carvings, for which the Makonde have become very famous, express ancestral reverence among other things, such as ceremonial masks. Sculptures are traditionally carved of Mpingo, or African Blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon). One famous motive is the “Tree of Life” in which the members of an extended family, past and present, support each other around the family ancestor.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 07:00:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015