The Rich History of Mozambique
A timeline from early tribe inhabitants to democratic elections
Dec 13, 2008
The San and Khoikhoi people were known to be the first inhabitants of Mozambique. They lived in the area hunting and gathering to sustain themselves.
Bantu Tribes
Bantu Tribes settled in Mozambique around 300 AD forcing out the San and Khoikhoi people and bringing agriculture to the area. Eventually Bantu speaking tribes made connections with Asian and Arab traders. They sold African gold, skins, ivory and shells creating wealth for the area. Bantu tribes began to establish kingdoms. As they begin to spread out the kingdoms become numerous and are separated by the Zambezi and Limpopo river. North of the Zambezi rivers are the kingdoms of Yao, Maravi and Makua. The Shona Empire who ruled between the rivers of Zambezi and Limpopo would later become Zimbabwe.
The Monomatapa follows the Zimbabwe region and is rich in goldmines which helps to create additional wealth for the area. Arab traders began to settle in that area because of the riches. Islam and African cultures in the area began to merge. The new culture was called Swahili.
Vasca Da Gama
In the late 1400s Portuguese Explorer Vasca Da Gama arrived in Mozambique. Da Gama found an already developed trade there of wealthy merchants and sheikhs. Da Gama decided to participate in the trade. When Vasca Da Gama leaves Mozambique, the area is in an uproar and part of the town is bombed.
Vasca Da Gama returns with more ships to take over the region and after a few years he does so. Any town that does not surrender is attacked and eventually is ruled by Portuguese.
In 1752, Portugal announces that they own Mozambique and the slave trade begins. Most of the slaves are sent to sugar plantations in Brazil. Eventually Portugal denounces slavery in 1869 although it continues until the beginning of the 1900s. Portugal's power in 1926 turn the government over to a fascist group headed up by Antonio Oliveira Salazar. Salazar encourage all the poor in Portugal to move to Mozambique create a great surge in population.
The Portuguese that move to Mozambique are given an education, but the Mozambique people are not allowed to attend.
Freedom
The Regime continued until June 25, 1975 when Mozambique became officially independent. Samora Machel became the first president. In 1986, he died in a plane crash under mysterious circumstances. Joaquim Chissano is elected president. Most of the country is still fighting for one party or another so in 1992 a cease fire goes into effect. According to Reuters "Mozambique was one of the poorest nations in the world at the end of a 17-year civil war in 1992 but has had one of the fastest growing economies in the region over the past decade."
October 1994 was the first free election. There were 14 political parties and 6 million registered voters. Joaquim Chissano remained president although under a halo of shock and disbelief. There were questions by other officials about how Chissano was tied to the plane crash of Machel.
The Mozambique people have had a tumultuous past. They continue to strive for peace and freedom.
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