The different religions
Tens of thousands of Mozambicans of different faiths welcomed him on September 5, 2019. Pope Francis was received by "Reconciliation! Reconciliation! "before calling for peace and cultivating trust in diversity.
According to Le Monde
, a representative of the National Council of Religions, present during the Pope's last visit, said alongside Muslim, Christian and Hindu representatives: "Finally reconciled, we are building Mozambique! "In history, the Catholic religion did not make its entry into Mozambique until the first Portuguese navigators disembarked in 1498. During the Portuguese colonization, which was particularly present in the Zambezi region and in the south of the country, two key areas of international trade, churches were built. The colonial period imposed its Catholic beliefs as the official religion. Under Salazar's government, religion was seen as an ultimate instrument of civilization, population control and national influence. Christians were then privileged. Very early on, the Portuguese sent missionaries whose role was to educate people through their culture and through faith in one God. In 1940, Catholicism became the imposed and official religion of Mozambique. At various levels of the state, and in all areas, the leaders are often high dignitaries of the Catholic Church. This same Church would later be responsible for the school education of the so-called "indigenous" Africans. But some religious will distinguish between their faith in God and colonial domination. They will have the courage to denounce the abuses of the colonial system. Catholic fathers of Portuguese origin, missionaries and converted Mozambican priests will thus be taken prisoner, expelled or murdered by the secret police of the colonial government. From 1975, with independence, things change. The first Mozambican Constitution recognized equal rights regardless of colour, race, sex, ethnic origin, place of birth, level of education, social status, profession and finally religious beliefs. The State defines itself as secular. There are, however, some disputes between the State and the Church, which until then had many prerogatives in the areas of education and health. The Marxist philosophy, adopted by the government of the time, overturned all religious structures.
A second important religious denomination: Islam. Today, especially in the north of the country, the muezzins sing from 5 am. Since the 7th century, the North Mozambican coasts have been the theatre of trade with the Arabian Peninsula and India, an Arab influence which explains the current presence of more than 20% of Muslims in Mozambique, particularly concentrated in the north where there are many similarities with the Swahili culture of Tanzania and Kenya. On the island of Ibo, in the Quirimbas archipelago, the Muslim population must reach 99%. It is important to adapt to the journey. You may not wear the same shorts in Ponta do Ouro in the south of the country as you would in the sandy streets of Ibo, or the cobbled streets of Ilha do Moçambique, where long clothes are more appropriate and respectful.
The war brought its share of unrest, but in the new constitution implemented in 1990, religious freedoms were finally restored. Religious people are involved in reconstruction in the fields of health and education, but also, and often through non-governmental organizations (NGOs), in rural development and humanitarian aid. Today, Catholics are said to represent more than half of the population. As for Sunni Islam, it is mainly established in the North and includes the majority of believers. Since 2017, small groups claiming radical Islam have been sowing discord in the province of Cabo Delgado, where murderous attacks have taken place. In the province of Niassa and Maputo, the Anglican Church is also represented. In the South, the influence of South Africa has led to the development of Protestant churches and syncretic religions which combine Christian monotheism with a certain respect for traditional cults. The Universal Church of the Sacred Heart is also present in Mozambique, ostensibly displaying messages such as "there is a solution to suffering" and "with us all the ills of the soul will be healed".Popular beliefs and superstitions
Beyond religions, traditional beliefs are omnipresent. In sub-Saharan Africa, many peoples are animist. Mozambique is no exception. More than half of the population, whether Catholic, Muslim, Protestant or Hindu, worship animism. What is it all about? Animists believe in spirits that have the power to influence people's lives for good or ill. A kind of life force that animates living beings and objects, as well as natural elements such as wind or stones
.Other beliefs question the veracity of the AIDS virus
, for example.For some doctors, this devastating virus is considered a benign symptom, associated with the breaking of a taboo. In such cases, the important thing is to "beat the curse" by obeying those connected with the spirit world, even before imagining treating the patient.
Certain beliefs lead to macabre and discriminatory crimes. For example, albinos can be assaulted and mutilated under the pretext that certain beliefs attribute "supernatural powers" to them. Rituals are then carried out with the victims' limbs to attract luck and wealth. In exactly the same way, bald people can be victims of "ritual attacks". According to other popular beliefs, they would be rich people, better yet, their heads would contain gold.
