Art

The sculptures and masks of the Makonde people have sparked the most international interest in Mozambique's traditional art. There are two types of wood carvings: shetani (evil spirits), which are mostly carved in heavy ebony and are tall and elegantly curved with symbols and nonrepresentational faces, and ujamaa, which are totem-type carvings that depict lifelike faces of people and various figures. These sculptures are commonly referred to as "family trees" because they tell the stories of multiple generations. It can be considered as one of the Unique Cultural Characteristics In Mozambique.

Modern macaw sculptures are typically one-piece dark wood compositions depicting human bodies tightly winding around each other. Modern Swahili textile designs with Islamic and Asian influences can be found along the country's northern coast.

A few colonial monumental works preserve the realism of Portuguese fascism. However, modernism is responsible for 1960s and 1970s urban architecture and visual arts. Sculptor Chissano and painter Valente Ngwenya Malangatana are both internationally recognized for their contributions to visual art and modern sculpture in Mozambique. Following the liberation in 1975, many artistically well-executed posters and murals were created. During the 1980s and 1990s, much of the post-independence art reflected political struggle, civil war, suffering, starvation, and struggle.