In Maputo (Mozambique), performing arts such as music, dance and theatre are creating new dynamics in urban spaces often associated with the city’s colonial past, and in the process are providing conduits to defusing negative public sentiment towards the city’s colonial-built heritage. Public spaces, such as the N`tsindza Cultural Centre, the Franco-Mozambican Cultural Centre, and old movie theatres, including Scala, Gil Vicente, Africa Movie Theatre and Avenida Theatre, among others, are becoming important urban spaces for the transmission of Mozambican intangible heritage, particularly Chopi Timbila and Gule Wamkulu rituals and dances. The practices stem from different communities across Mozambique and take urban expression through the migrant communities of Maputo. This has also spurred the development of performance-based creative industries throughout the city, such as contemporary dance, rap and hip-hop music, and film.

Source: Arterial Network, report for Study Area 1