Parque Nacional da Gorongosa Moçambique

Gorongosa welcomes cultural event

Nov 18, 2009 - Gorongosa District

The district of Gorongosa received a music and theater event this past weekend.

The event on the district level, organized by Gorongosa National Park (GNP) in coordination with the administrative authorities of the district, took place in “Mangueiras Square”, behind the Municipal Council in the town of Gorongosa. 

The concert had as its objective to create an opportunity for emergent cultural artists of this area to meet each other and share experiences, as well as popularizing and exposing the cultural diversity of the region. 

Four musical bands - Muera, Canda, Nhancunco and “Irmãos da Gorongosa” (Brothers of Gorongosa) and a theatrical group - Nganganga, presented their offerings in different cultural expressions. 

The group of Nhancuco, represented by Silvestre Braga, was the first to take the permanent stage, made of wood.  It was followed by the group from Canda that stirred the audience with joyful gospel melodies. 

Afterwards, the Nganganga Group of Theater, Song and Dance took action under the direction of Olímpio Francisco Nota Cassenga.  It produced a piece about domestic violence.  The versatile team composed of 15 actors presented a present-day subject that reflects some of the most critical anxieties than afflict society nowadays, with an elevated sense of humor. 


This group gave up the stage to the “Irmãos da Gorongosa”, led by Albertino Óscar.  They are a musical group of the Town headquarters that plays marrabenta rhythm and sings about essentially educational themes concerning the environment and social criticism. 

Sounds, pleasant rhythms, and the jovial voice of his main vocalist excessively charmed the public. 

Finally, the group of Muera acted.  This group, driven by Rodrigues Araújo António, was the evident star of the show, which happened for the first time in the history of Gorongosa.

The group from Muera was at the center of an energized presentation, which was the most applauded performance by spectators. 

The young musicians sung in Chigorodzi and charmed to the rhythm of Zimbabwean music, aiding to the frenzy. 


The bands played with their own traditionally manufactured instruments, made up basically, of three guitars and a drum, two microphones, and a conventional amplifier. 

The handcrafted guitars were produced observing the structure and all the techniques of a modern generated instrument, like a resonance box and pickup that permits electronic sound amplification.


Hundreds of people watched this event of cultural expression in “Mangueiras Square” in the Town of Gorongosa. 

The artists expressed thanks for the initiative.  According to the leader of the “Irmãos da Gorongosa”, Albertino Óscar, the event gave an opportunity to different groups of the district to get to know each other, spend time together and exchange experiences, in addition to constituting an unparalleled occasion to expose the musicians to the public.

On the other hand, they ask that actions of this nature continue in Gorongosa as a way of promoting and popularizing local musicians.

This feeling is confirmed by all the other leaders of the bands that took part in the spectacle. 

In his turn, the chief of the Pedagogical Support Section, António Mambuanda, in representation of the director of the District Service of Education, Youth and Technology, praised the intention of GNP to organize an event of cultural expression for the musicians and theatrical actors of Gorongosa. 

"It was very good for the Park to join several artists of Gorongosa to show their talent and elevate the local culture", said Mambuanda. 



At the end of the musical performances and theatrical shows each participant group received a present of ten capulanas (colored cloth) that were followed by a sociable lunch.
 

Carlitos Sunza
Department of Communications/GNP