ULusófona celebrates Malangatana through an artistic project
The project promotes art, research and memory, uniting institutions from Portugal and Mozambique to celebrate the artist’s cultural heritage
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Between 11 April and 30 June 2026, the “Malangatana, 90 Years – Practice, Memory and Catharsis” programme is taking place at Espaço Mira, in Porto, an initiative marking the 90th anniversary of the birth of the Mozambican artist, celebrated on 6 June.
The project is promoted by the Fundação Malangatana Valente Ngwenya in partnership with Lusófona University, through the Centre for Research in Applied Communication, Culture and New Technologies (CICANT), and involving several study programmes from the Faculty of Communication, Architecture, Arts and Information Technologies (FCAATI).
The initiative forms part of a programme developed simultaneously in Portugal and Mozambique, seeking to mark the occasion not only in a commemorative way, but also through the creation of a broad range of activities.
“Malangatana, 90 Years – Practice, Memory and Catharsis” includes exhibitions, scientific and artistic research, pedagogical practices and performative moments, organised around six strands: Audiovisual, Events, Exhibition, Research, Pedagogical and Performative.
Through these activities and initiatives, the programme aims to present and discuss the work and legacy of Malangatana, contributing to its appreciation and dissemination among different audiences.
The dramatized poetry reading session featuring Mozambican authors, held on 15 April by students from the Bachelor’s Degree in Dramatic Arts - Actor Training at Lusófona University, was one of these activities.
Until 23 May, “Crepúsculo Moçambicano”, curated by Lurdes Macedo and Manuel Santos Maia, will also be on display. The exhibition draws on Malangatana’s multifaceted personality to explore the social, cultural and artistic contexts that shaped his life and work.
The exhibition brings together works by Malangatana, pieces by contemporary artists and young Mozambican creators, as well as memorabilia, popular art from southern Mozambique, historical documents and rare bibliographic works. The exhibition route also includes a documentary on the artist’s life and legacy, shown on a continuous loop.
This project establishes itself as a meeting point between research, artistic creation and memory, providing a contemporary interpretation of the work of Malangatana Valente Ngwenya. Text edited by Susana A. Oliveira
View Event Photos on the ULusófona Facebook page
Text
Bruna Pereira
Coverage
Lara Sousa
Video Editing
Gabriel Motta
Paulo Renato
Photography Editing
Paulo Renato
