...things get interesting and the festivities last the entire day! This post is a quick little blurb about Dia 7 de Abril, or Dia da Mulher Moçambicana (Mozambican Women's Day). You may recall in an earlier post the inequality surrounding the genders when it comes to recognition and appreciation, with men somehow claiming every Friday as theirs with "dia de homen," but only giving women the one nationally recognized holiday. Well, when that day comes around on the 7th of April every year, the women make a point to take advantage of it and do it up in style!
This year's holiday fell on a Saturday and the events began as they do for most holidays: in the praça with the singing of the national anthem and a laying of flowers on the memorial plaque at the center of the square commemorating the country's independence. After that the crowd moseyed on to the gathering space by the administrative building (mayor's office) and listened to a couple speeches made by Metoro's leaders (especially political leaders, who seem to always find a way to sneak in their agendas) before watching a couple performances by local groups. One of the groups that performed was the local school, in which a group of young girls did a dance and a couple adolescents recited poetry they had writtem in memory of Josina Machel, the second wife of Samora Machel, revolutionary and first president of Mozambique. April 7th is the anniversary of her death and she is widely recognized as a national heroine.
After the activities in the plaza finished up the real festivities began. Mãe invited me back to her house to cook and spend time with the group of women from the hospital who had decided to make her house the place to be to celebrate. Long story short, I ended up being there from roughly 9 in the morning (you have to remember everything starts early in Mozambique, so the activities in the plaza began around 7 a.m.) until six at night (although the drinking and dancing went on until easily at least 9 p.m.). You might wonder at the fact that the women were still cooking on their holiday, but Mozambique hasn't advanced quite THAT far in the holiday that the men might feel compelled to cook for their wives. Honestly, I'm sure the women prefer it that way for a couple reasons: 1) they would be terrified at the possibility of the food ruining their diversion and 2) spending time with a bunch of ladies and no men is a great way to get some relaxation and gossip in without having to think at all about the men in their lives and homes they have left behind. I said "no men" in the previous sentence, but I was lucky enough to be privy to the entire gathering (except for an hour or so stretch of what I can only assume was especially juicy and mercilessly gender-homed gossip) and was indeed the only male there aside from a couple individuals who helped out with the cooking and domestic tasks during the party. It was a blast and the food was INCREDIBLE! The day was also notable for the fact that many of the women were drinking, which is unfortunately not something usually seen in the culture of the North. All in all, it was a completely full day and packed with learning and great moments with my Mozambican family here!
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| Most of the women who participated in the party. One of the traditions is for husbands (if they have the money) to buy their wives a capulana to commemorate the special day. This was the capulana chosen by the hospital this year. |
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| Everyone lined up to place flowers at the memorial. The 'important' community members can be seen lined up in front of the crowd and includes local neighborhood leaders, the mayor ans some of the local police force. |
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| After the laying of flowers, the ladies marched down the street and back to the gathering area in front of the administrative building. |
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| Some girls of the local school performed a traditional dance that involves the blowing of a whistle. |
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| Prepping the moringa for lunch. The leaves will be boiled to create a stew of sorts and then served with xima (a food of mashed potato consistency that is corn based) |
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| The feasting! As you can see: not many white nor guys in the gathering, but I held my own and made mãe proud by going back for seconds! |
