Cult of monuments and imperial project in the 1940s: Negotiating a colonial past in Maputo and beyond

Abstract

The national history commemorated in Maputo’s memorials, during the colonial period, comprises the triumphs of the Occupation and its heroes, the War effort, and extraordinary achievements, common elements of most national histories and of the various imperial projects of the European powers throughout the 20th century. What was then a symbol of the colonizing country's conquests became a problematic legacy on the eve of Independence. The ressemantization of public space and the denial of much of this heritage, which includes buildings, cities (built to European standards) and urban experiences, made evident the transfer of power and a new political and cultural project that sought to counter the legacies of colonialism. The text briefly describes the construction of memorials and the selection of monuments in Mozambique during the first decade of Estado Novo (1933-1974), in order to reflect on the contemporary interpretation and validation of heritage in Mozambique. The research carried out in 2014 and 2019, on urban studies, restoration projects of monuments and legislation for heritage in Mozambique from the first decades of the 20th century, allows the establishment of parallels with other colonial experiences and, more significantly, with the current discussion on the conservation of “dissonant” heritages.

Keywords:
Mozambique; Estado Novo; Selection of heritage; Restoration of monuments