Maputo, known as Lourenço Marques before independence, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription “This is Portugal” on the walkway of its municipal building. Today it is a port city on the Indian Ocean, with its economy centered around the harbour. According to the 2007 census, the population is 1,766,184. Cotton, sugar, chromite, sisal, copra, and hardwood are the chief exports. The city manufactures cement, pottery, furniture, shoes, and rubber. The city is surrounded by Maputo Province, but is administered as its own province.

It is estimated that 80% of the city’s population live in slums without running water or electricity, but the city has little money to invest in infrastructure. Maputo has grown considerably as it experienced economic growth rates as high as 9% annually, but inequality is still a problem. [Source: Wikipedia]

I loved in Maputo for nearly a year, and enjoyed every minute of it. Maputo is a strange dichotomy. It has the appearance of a bustling, ever modernizing capital city, but the culture of rural Africa is ever present. It seems like a city looking to the future, while clinging to the pass. There are neighborhoods where you will hear locals speaking Portuguese to discuss current events and business, but you will literally cross the street to hear local dialects telling folkloric stories and singing songs from the tribal times.  The meshing of these two worlds gives Maputo a very contemporary yet antiquated feel. The Maputo experience is so unique, it is better experienced than described.