Maputo
Maputo is the capital and also the biggest city of Mozambique.
History
Ronga people have been living in Maputo area long time before the arrival of Portuguese. Their main activities were whale hunting, fishing and farming.
In 1545 Portuguese traveler Lourenço Marques reached Maputo Bay (formerly known as Baía de Delagoa). His reports about Maputo Bay attracted more traders from Portugal, but the official year of establishing a city is considered to be 1876.
In the mid 19th century gold and diamonds were discovered in nearby Transvaal Republic, which, of course, attracted even more people to Maputo (at that time known as Lourenço Marques).
In 1898 capital of Portuguese East Africa was moved to Laurenço Marques from Ilha de Moçambique. Capital was developing with the extension of railroad and port.
In 1950s and 1960s Lourenço Marques became famous among South African and Portuguese tourists for its prostitutes, nice beaches and delicious prawns.
After gaining independence, Samora Machel, the first president of Mozambique, has renamed Lourenço Marques into Maputo in the honor of fierce tribal chief, Maputa, who was a ruler of a region and resisted Portuguese colonialism.
First Impressions
If you have been to Egypt, Morocco, Tunis or other North African countries and have seen the poor parts of the cities, then more or less you can imagine the sight of Maputo. Moreover, if you are from former Soviet Union country and you are old enough to remember soviet times or first years of independence, you can see the picture of today's Maputo. Of course, with "slight" African highlights.... The temperature is much higher than for example in Lithuania and most of the people are black. It is quite rare to see a white person on the streets of Maputo and you get a feeling that they stare at you more than the black people :-)
It is dirty. Dusty. But full of people on the streets: banana vendors, sunglasses sellers, women in kapulanas (traditional clothing) selling cashews with one hand and holding their babies in the other.
While walking on the streets you can definitely see the influence of Soviet times (Mozambique used to receive a lot of help from Soviet Union and Cuba) - gray Marxist-style block buildings, streets named after famous comunists.
Even the Statue of Samora Machel reminds something familiar... Maybe Vladimir Lenin, the statue of whom was the necessary and almost most important point in a Lithuanian town?
Cathedral in Maputo
History
Ronga people have been living in Maputo area long time before the arrival of Portuguese. Their main activities were whale hunting, fishing and farming.
In 1545 Portuguese traveler Lourenço Marques reached Maputo Bay (formerly known as Baía de Delagoa). His reports about Maputo Bay attracted more traders from Portugal, but the official year of establishing a city is considered to be 1876.
In the mid 19th century gold and diamonds were discovered in nearby Transvaal Republic, which, of course, attracted even more people to Maputo (at that time known as Lourenço Marques).
In 1898 capital of Portuguese East Africa was moved to Laurenço Marques from Ilha de Moçambique. Capital was developing with the extension of railroad and port.
In 1950s and 1960s Lourenço Marques became famous among South African and Portuguese tourists for its prostitutes, nice beaches and delicious prawns.
After gaining independence, Samora Machel, the first president of Mozambique, has renamed Lourenço Marques into Maputo in the honor of fierce tribal chief, Maputa, who was a ruler of a region and resisted Portuguese colonialism.
First Impressions
If you have been to Egypt, Morocco, Tunis or other North African countries and have seen the poor parts of the cities, then more or less you can imagine the sight of Maputo. Moreover, if you are from former Soviet Union country and you are old enough to remember soviet times or first years of independence, you can see the picture of today's Maputo. Of course, with "slight" African highlights.... The temperature is much higher than for example in Lithuania and most of the people are black. It is quite rare to see a white person on the streets of Maputo and you get a feeling that they stare at you more than the black people :-)
It is dirty. Dusty. But full of people on the streets: banana vendors, sunglasses sellers, women in kapulanas (traditional clothing) selling cashews with one hand and holding their babies in the other.
While walking on the streets you can definitely see the influence of Soviet times (Mozambique used to receive a lot of help from Soviet Union and Cuba) - gray Marxist-style block buildings, streets named after famous comunists.
Even the Statue of Samora Machel reminds something familiar... Maybe Vladimir Lenin, the statue of whom was the necessary and almost most important point in a Lithuanian town?
Cathedral in Maputo
Comments
How would you describe it to someone who has not yet been to Africa or someone who has not experienced the break up of the USSR?
Is there any religious presents?