On October 9, 2023, the celebration of the 110th anniversary of the Maputo Natural History Museum took place. The event was attended by the Ambassador of Italy in Mozambique, Gianni Bardini, the Director of the Natural History Museum, Lucília Chuquela, the Rector of Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), Manuel Guilhermo Júnior, the head of the Maputo Office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), Paolo Sertoli, as well as representatives from the government, diplomatic corps, United Nations agencies, and civil society.
The Museum, inaugurated in 1913 as the Museum of the Province of Maputo, has over the years become a beacon for the preservation and promotion of Mozambique’s rich biodiversity and cultural diversity. For example, it houses a collection of 175,000 insects and has more than 500 artifacts related to various areas such as dance, sculpture, music, goldsmithing, ceramics, and basketry. Moreover, it is the most visited institution in Mozambique, receiving 32,000 visitors annually, making it an important tourist attraction in the country.
The Museum will now undergo a rehabilitation under the RINO program, which is funded by AICS. This project, with a funding of 9.5 million euros, aims to ensure the conservation of biodiversity and includes funding for the renovation works of the Museum, which will commence in early 2024 and will last for at least one year.
In his speech, the Italian Ambassador in Mozambique, Gianni Bardini, emphasized that once rehabilitated, the Museum will become “a valuable educational tool about biodiversity and local ecosystems” and an “important space for research and the training of young researchers.” He concluded his speech by highlighting that the renovation of the Museum is “a project that represents a pearl of our cooperation, something that will endure, be beneficial, and bring great advantages to Mozambique.”
On her part, Lucília Chuquela, the Director of the Museum, expressed her deep gratitude for the continuous support from the Italian government to the institution, further emphasizing that when the works are completed, “we will have a modern Museum capable of fully serving the functions of education, exhibition, and research.” Meanwhile, UEM Rector, Manuel Guilhermo Júnior, challenged the institution to make the most of the investment made, in order to “become a Museum of reference in Africa and the world.”
After the speeches, visitors had the opportunity to explore the exhibition panels detailing the Museum’s renovation process. The event concluded with a concert performed by the artist Rajih Ali.
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