History & Politics
Bantu-speakers
Evidence of our earliest ancestors has been found across east Africa, in countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya. Though little trace of the first hunter-gatherers has appeared in Mozambique, they were likely living in the region.
Bantu-speaking peoples probably arrived from around the 1st century AD, bringing with them their iron-age tools and knowledge of farming. These peoples formed small chiefdoms.
By the 11th century AD, powerful kingdoms began rising in the Western Highlands, in what is now modern-day Zimbabwe – see Zimbabwe History & Politics. These kingdoms used the rivers flowing through Mozambique as trade routes to the sea. The low-lying and disease-prone coastal plains of Mozambique were less populated.
Power of the coast
Wealthy trading ports
The famous Portuguese maritime explorer, Vasco da Gama, sailed around the south of the African continent en route to India. His ship landed at Mozambique Island in 1498 – see Map of Mozambique. Da Gama tried to trade with the ruling Sultan, but his gifts were spurned. He had nothing to offer which compared to the wealth of African goods – cotton, ivory, gold and pearls – available at the time.
Trading with Arab sailors and merchants ensured that natural harbours along Mozambique’s coastline became important ports. Iron, gold and animal skins were brought from inland along the rivers.
A trading language called Swahili grew up – a mixture of Bantu and Arabic, which later included European elements. Portuguese words were among those used in Swahili. This is because Portuguese sailors began arriving in Mozambique from the late 15th century.
Portuguese occupation
In 1507, the Portuguese built a permanent settlement on Mozambique Island and began attacking long-established Muslim trade centres. The Portuguese mainly occupied coastal areas, but occasionally they sent expeditions inland.
Expeditions were often led by mazungos, people of both African and Portuguese descent. Some of the mazungos set up chieftaincies along the coast and major rivers.
The split in the north
In the 19th century, the Scots had a strong presence on land which bisects the country to the north. This region was therefore kept by the British and today forms southern Malawi.
Over the next centuries, the Portuguese fought hard (against Muslim, African and European attackers) to keep control over the coast of Mozambique. When Africa was divided up in the late 19th century, Mozambique (as it is currently shaped today) was therefore given to Portugal.
Portugal’s rule wasn’t strong everywhere and many parts of the country operated outside its influence. Some provinces were even governed by companies based in South Africa and Mozambicans from the south were employed as migrant workers.
An independent Mozambique
A failed economy
Marxist/socialist in its policies, Frelimo was successful in improving schooling and health services. However, Mozambique’s businesses and economy collapsed, especially when many Portuguese left the country. Disastrous floods and droughts also hit harvests.
Portugal remained neutral during World War II and Mozambique concentrated on its food production and exports. By 1960, independence movements were gaining ground and Mozambique was finally granted independence in 1974.
The country’s former liberation movement of Frelimo (the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique) took over governance.
The rival group of Renamo (the Mozambican National Resistance) was formed with foreign backing to topple the Frelimo party. Fighting between the two groups (stoked by the involvement of other countries) turned into civil war, which caused widespread loss of life.
Peace came in 1992 after elections. Mozambique is now a multi-party democracy with an elected president. Currently, this is Armando Guebuza of the ruling Frelimo party.
