High-Level Event: Signing of Memorandum of Understanding to Revive a Historic Cultural building in Maputo-Mozambique
High-Level Event: Signing of Memorandum of Understanding to Revive a Historic Cultural building in Maputo-Mozambique
The Mozambican Minister of Education and Culture, Samaria dos Anjos Tovela, witnessed in Maputo on Thursday the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that paves the way for the rehabilitation of the historic Africa theatre located in the heart of the Mozambican capital.
The MoU, signed by the Executive Director of the Kulungwana Association, Henny Matos, and the Director of the National Dance and Singing Company, André Mabasso, will breathe new life into a theatre that has long been out of operation. The initiative will resume cultural activities and contribute to the training of underprivileged children and adolescents from Greater Maputo region through music education.
“It is a great honor for us to reach this agreement with the National Dance and Singing Company. It will allow us to work together after the renovation of the theatre. I would like to thank the Minister for her personal commitment to making this happen, and we will do everything within our capacity to ensure its success,” said Henny Matos.
The Director of the National Dance and Singing Company, entrusted by the Ministry of Education and Culture with the management of the theatre, expressed optimism about the venue’s revival:
“On behalf of all art and cultural actors, we are thankful for this opportunity that will give life to the ‘cathedral’ of arts. Several art groups started here, and this MoU will reignite that light,” said André Mabasso.
Minister Tovela recalled attending sessions at the theatre with her father as a teenager and expressed gratitude to all those involved in the effort to renew the venue:
“I am very pleased and thankful for this expression of interest, which is a victory for all of us—the Ministry and all Mozambicans. When I was young, my father took me there to watch cultural events. So thank you for this; it will help us give a new look to the theatre,” said the Minister.
The MoU is part of the Green Light Project, funded by the KIA Foundation and implemented by the Kulungwana Association in collaboration with World Vision Mozambique to develop the skills of children and youth in the Greater Maputo region through music. Through this project, World Vision is contributing to the well-being of children and youth in an urban context and is hopeful to have it expanded to reach more beneficiaries with their life skills developed
About Cine Africa Theatre
Located on Avenida 24 de Julho in Maputo, Africa Theatre (Cine Teatro África in Portuguese) was inaugurated in 1957 as a neighborhood cinema catering to the urban Mozambican population. The theatre has been out of use for over 10 years, although it retains its structure and some original elements. The renovation, supported by the KIA Foundation, will restore a significant part of the building and bring it back to life as a cultural landmark.