Parque Nacional da Gorongosa Moçambique

Community Education Center Site Blessed by Community Leaders

Feb 22, 2009 - Gorongosa National Park

On October 15, 2008, local community elders held a blessing ceremony, or ntsembe, at the future site of the Community Education Center (CEC). Maneca Chicare, the traditional Chief of the nearby community of Nhambita, presided over the ceremony at the base of a prominent tree, locally known as the traditional tree, near the future entrance to the Center. Along with his brother and his wife, Mr. Chicare gave instructions to Park staff and several dozen construction workers about respecting the customs and traditions of the grounds where they will be working to build the new education center. 



GNP staff members and local community members clapping their hands during the ntsembe

The ntsembe is meant to evoke the ancestors of the region to tell them about the current developments taking place at the Park and to ask for their blessing in order to ensure successful work.  Ancestors were specifically asked to protect Park staff and workers from wild animals and from supernatural events that exist in local mythology.  Every year before the start of the tourist season, an ntsembe is held at Chitengo Safari Camp inside the Park.  Blessing ceremonies have also been performed when buffalo were relocated to the Wildlife Sanctuary, when trips are made to Mount Gorongosa, and when tourists and staff visit the Khodzué Caves in the Park.  A similar ceremony took place when nine new cabanas were constructed for tourists in Chitengo. Most recently in July 2008, at the celebration of the Long Term Agreement for the Gorongosa National Park Management between the Government of Mozambique and Carr Foundation, a traditional ceremony was held at the presence of President Armando Guebuza and other participants. 

Blessing rituals bring together all of the partners connected to the life of the Park and strengthen ties among them.  They allow Park staff to formally recognize traditional local authorities and their important cooperation with the Park.  Local leaders help the Park by mobilizing the local population to protect Gorongosa’s ecosystem.



Nhambita Chief, Maneca Chicare and his wife during one of the phases of the ntsembe

The construction of the education center was originally supported by IPAD-Instituto Portugues de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento (the Portuguese Cooperation Institute) and the Carr Foundation. The goal of the center is to contribute to the improvement of the life conditions of Sofala province’s population, one of the poorest provinces in Mozambique, through education and training of local community members.  Large numbers of local community members in and around Gorongosa National Park who do not have the opportunity to attend school will be able to learn about agriculture, health, environment, and better practices for rural development at the center.  The Gorongosa Restoration Project recently received a grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to construct additional buildings for the CEC.

We hope that construction of the center will also bring local leaders in the sciences to the Park and draw scientists and experts from across the region together.  Perhaps more local community members will pursue careers in the sciences, which will result in an increased capacity to care for and protect important places like Gorongosa.



Final moments of the ntsembe

In keeping with the ntsembe’s blessings and with the conservation principles of Gorongosa National Park, the construction of the CEC will have the utmost concern for the environment at all times.  The layout of the CEC campus has been designed to accommodate the existing trees in the area to decrease the impact on the land.  Walkways have already been laid out so that construction workers will not damage the campus grounds while working to build the center.  The buildings will be constructed using local materials and an innovative green design aimed at reducing energy needs, including solar panels and a rainwater capturing system. 

The educational center will consist of several dorms, a large classroom, a cafeteria, a library, offices, accommodation for the center’s managers, and a guest house for visiting researchers.  Through the CEC, Gorongosa National Park can reach out to surrounding communities with workshops, skills sessions, and educational conferences for children as well as adults.  The opening of the CEC is scheduled for mid-2009.