Today Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, celebrates 120 years! I did not really do anything today to celebrate this holiday, but I did have a very relaxing Saturday! While we were eating dinner we heard some 'booms' and realized they were fireworks. We watched from our living room window. I captured a few on my camera. Happy Maputo Day! Here is some info I found about this holiday:
The Mozambican capital city won the status on Nov. 10, 1887, after its foundation in 1782 with the name of Lourenço Marques (an influential Portuguese trader who developed business in the area). Founded in 1876, the city was named after Lourenço Marques, the Portuguese trader who was the first European to explore the area in 1544.
He explored the area that is now Maputo Bay in 1544. He settled permanently in present-day Mozambique, where he spent most of his life with his wife and children. By order of King John III the bay was named Baia de Lourenço Marques in his honor, although this name was never in common use.
The highlight of the celebration of 120 years of Maputo will be a mega-show, in which more than 50 musicians will sing the national anthem at Independence Square, one of the historical places in the country.
I've learned a lot from this post. Thank you for that. Plus fireworks are amazing. always.
ReplyDeleteyou are quite the historian. i am loving this and will use it for training my team for '08!
ReplyDeletemom
Maputo: http://maputo.visitusinmaputo.com
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