The Maputo Natural History Museum, coordinated by Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), began receiving visitors again this week, after being closed for more than two years for renovation works.
The museum was founded in 1911 and housed in a historic Manueline-style building since 1933. It now boasts a more modern, inclusive feel, and is ready to welcome students, researchers, and tourists.
Closed in October 2023, the museum underwent a comprehensive renovation, encompassing everything from its architectural structure to its museological and museographic aspects. Improvements include the installation of solar panels, air conditioning and lighting systems, indoor restrooms, an elevator, and access ramps for people with disabilities. A room for temporary exhibitions, a bookstore, and a café were also built.
In the exhibition space, all exhibits were restored and given a modern museological approach, showcasing habitats and species in their natural relationships. Rooms dedicated to seagrasses and large marine fauna were introduced, as well as new accessibility features, including information adapted for people with audiovisual impairments.
One of the new features is the creation of an ethnographic room with approximately 500 objects linked to the cultural practices of different Mozambican peoples, including art, sculpture, music, jewelry, ceramics, and basketry, complemented by a historical photographic collection.
The renovation, budgeted at 4.25 million euros, was led by Italian and Mozambican experts affiliated with the Sapienza University of Rome, in partnership with the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station and the NGO WeWorld. Funding came from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
(By MozaVibe)
