Welcome to Min-On’s Music Journey! Today we invite you to accompany us to the Republic of Mozambique, located along the eastern coast of southern Africa, together with our friends from the Embassy of the Republic of Mozambique in Japan.
Mozambique is truly a “Land of Diversity,” being a multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multi-religious state, home to approximately 40 ethnic groups. With over 2,500 km of coastline, Mozambique is a young nation, having gained independence from Portugal in 1975.
Our journey begins in Maputo, the capital in the south, and heads north toward the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mozambique Island.
・Listen to “Marrabenta” dance music born in the capital Maputo ・Swim in the beautiful seas off the Bazaruto Archipelago, a paradise in the Indian Ocean ・Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mozambique Island
Lenna Bahule is a female artist from Maputo. Her signature original compositions blend Mozambican traditional music with diverse contemporary sounds. Begin your journey by listening to the track “Munague” from her latest album, “Kumlango” released in 2025.
Munague | Lenna Bahule – Visualizer Kumlango
Southern region: Maputo, a port city where architectural styles converge
Maputo, Mozambique’s capital facing the Indian Ocean, is a port city blessed with a natural deep-water harbor acting as a vital gateway to neighboring landlocked southern African countries. The cityscape still bears strong influences from the Portuguese colonial era, with vibrant jacaranda-lined avenues and buildings in diverse architectural styles creating a beautiful landscape.
The city is dotted with numerous cultural highlights, including the Maputo Cathedral built in the early 1900s, the National Art Gallery and the Natural History Museum. The Chissano Gallery is also a hidden gem, home to works by renowned sculptor Chissano, one of Mozambique’s most celebrated artists.
Meanwhile, the downtown area is home to shopping centers and the Central Market, facilities closely tied to daily life. For those who enjoy spicy food, trying Mozambican “Piri Piri Chicken” (grilled chicken coated in African chili sauce) at the market or restaurants is highly recommended. It also home of the Iron House (Casa de Ferro) a prefabricated iron building designed by Gustave Eiffel’company.
Marrabenta is a dance music genre that developed in the 1930s–40s from a fusion of Portuguese folk and traditional rhythms. Its African rhythms and lively Portuguese guitar sounds give this genre an energy that makes you want to dance. Below we’ve selected a song by Neyma, the diva of Marrabenta, for you to enjoy.
Neyma – Como Anima A Marrabenta
Southern region: Tofo Beach and the Bazaruto Archipelago’s beautiful ocean blue
Fly about one hour north from Maputo International Airport to arrive at Inhambane Airport in Inhambane Province. Among Mozambique’s vast coastline, this province is particularly renowned for its stunning beaches.
The coastal town of Tofo Beach is a renowned surfing spot and a popular destination for encounters with marine life like whale sharks and manta rays. Other highlights in Inhambane Province include the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, a must-see location surrounded by stunning natural beauty. The archipelago of six islands creates a fantastical, otherworldly landscape with its contrast of gleaming white coral reefs, crystal-clear waters and endless sand dunes.
The Timbila is a xylophone passed down by the Chopi people of Inhambane Province. Precisely carved wooden slats are fixed to a gourd-shaped resonator and sealed with beeswax to produce its unique sound. An orchestra composed of dozens of Timbilas produces rich tones and complex rhythms, collaborating with about ten dancers to express various themes.
Central region: Gorongosa National Park, a symbol of nature’s regeneration and coexistence
Gorongosa National Park is around 200 km – a 3 or 4-hour drive – from Beira, Mozambique’s second-largest city in the central region. Spanning 3,770 square kilometers, this vast landscape features diverse terrain including savannah, wetlands and forests. The paradise of biodiversity is home to over 400 bird species and large mammals such as lions and elephants.
Although civil war once led to the loss of many species and natural features here, rapid reconstruction has progressed since 2008 through animal reintroduction, the promotion of ecotourism and large-scale employment of local residents. Today, nature has revived to such an extent it is renowned as “Africa’s Paradise,” highly regarded internationally as a model of coexistence accompanied by educational and medical support.
Northern region: World Heritage Site Mozambique Island
Mozambique Island is a World Heritage island in the Indian Ocean, connected to the mainland by a bridge approximately 3 km long. During the Portuguese colonial era, it served as the center of Mozambique, and before that, it flourished as an Arab port.
The island’s northern side features a diverse landscape characterized by stone and limestone buildings influenced by European, Arab and Indian styles, while the southern side is dotted with traditional African architectural settlements.
Mapiko Dance is a traditional dance passed down by the Makonde people of northern Mozambique. During its theatrical performance, multiple dancers wearing masks depicting animals or people dance to the rhythm of drums and choral singing. Mapiko is performed during rites of passage for adults and funerals. The dance is also a means of transmitting ancestral values, beliefs and customs, and was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2023 under the name “Ingoma ya Mapiko.”
In closing, we invite you to enjoy some performances by musicians recommended by the Embassy of the Republic of Mozambique in Japan.
- Music from Mozambique, Vol. 2: Chopi Timbila, Two Orchestral Performances
- Timbila Muzimba
What did you think of your music journey to Mozambique? There are still many more places to go! Please look forward to our next destination.
(Produced in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Mozambique in Japan, who also provided photos.)
Min-On Concert Association
-Music Binds Our Hearts-
