Malangatana (Matalana, 1936 – Matosinhos, 2011) was one of the first and greatest modern African artists and is undoubtedly the Mozambican artist most frequently cited in the world of visual arts. His artistic career, which began in the late 1950s, spanned different periods of history – colonialism, which he actively fought against; Mozambique’s independence, which called upon him to take on the responsibility of participating in a utopian project to build a new nation; and the transition to a system based on Western liberal democracies, which allowed him to fully exercise his freedom as a citizen of Mozambique and of the world.

From an early age, he frequented national and international art circles, exhibiting mainly painting and drawing, forms of expression in which he felt most at ease and which brought him renown. A man of many talents, and always willing to learn from masters and peers, he also turned to other media: watercolour, printmaking, tapestry, embroidery, ceramics, sculpture, illustration and murals.

Drawing on the striking and multifaceted personality of Malangatana, who would have turned 90 on 6 June 2026, this exhibition guides visitors through the contexts and social circles that inspired and/or were inspired by the artist at different stages of his life. Without the ambition of encompassing the full dynamism of Malangatana’s legacy, but seeking to highlight it, this exhibition presents works by the honoured artist, by artists with whom he formed friendships – such as Ernesto Shikani (1934–2010), António Bronze (1935–2003), or Moira Forjaz (b. 1942) – and by a new generation of Mozambican artists; memorabilia, items from documentary collections and Mozambican folk art; rare historical publications documenting the social, cultural and political contexts in which the artist was actively involved, including in Portugal; three slideshows featuring images illustrating his career; and, finally, a documentary on his life and work.

PROGRAMME

11 April, 4pm _ Opening of the exhibition “Crepúsculo Moçambicano” at Espaço MIRA with the curators, Gracieta Malangatana Ngwenya, Jean Victor Nkolo, José Paiva, Sheila Khan, Vanessa Ribeiro-Rodrigues

15 April, 3pm _ A performance reading of poetry by Mozambican authors, coordinated by Manuel Santos Maia and Nuno Bessa Moreira

9 May, 4pm _ Launch of the book “Malangatana: The Eye of the Crocodile”, by Richard Gray

6 June, 4pm _ Screening of the documentary “No Trilho de Malangatana: Do Legado à Memória” (In the Footsteps of Malangatana: From Legacy to Memory), by Lurdes Macedo, followed by a discussion with researchers and artists

30 June, 4 pm _ Session “Malangatana: Practice, Memory and Catharsis”, as part of the 2nd CICANT Summer School of African Studies in Portuguese

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS

Malangatana Valente Ngwenya Foundation (Mozambique); LabCLIP/CICANT | Lusófona University - CUP (Portugal); MIRA Galleries (Portugal); João de Almeida Collection and IDENTIDADES_Action and Research Collective

General Curator: Luís Bernardo Honwana

General Coordination in Mozambique: Mutxhini Malangatana Ngwenya,

Malangatana Valente Ngwenya Foundation

General Coordination in Portugal: Lurdes Macedo, Lusófona University

and Centre for Research in Applied Communication, Culture and New Technologies

Curators: Manuel Santos Maia and Lurdes Macedo

We would like to thank all the organisations involved and Alice Guerreiro, Estela Gomes, Gracieta Malangatana Ngwenya, Jean Victor Nkolo, João de Almeida, José Paiva, Manuela Bronze, Mutxhini Malangatana Ngwenya, Nuno Bessa Moreira, Richard Gray, Sheila Khan, Vanessa Ribeiro-Rodrigues, final-year students of Dramatic Arts – Acting.ORGANISATIONS INVOLVEDMalangatana Valente Ngwenya Foundation (Mozambique); LabCLIP/CICANT | Lusófona University - CUP (Portugal); MIRA Galerias (Portugal); João de Almeida Collection and IDENTIDADES_Action and Research CollectiveGeneral Curator: Luís Bernardo HonwanaGeneral Coordination in Mozambique: Mutxhini Malangatana Ngwenya,Malangatana Valente Ngwenya FoundationGeneral Coordination in Portugal: Lurdes Macedo, Lusófona Universityand Centre for Research in Applied Communication, Culture and New TechnologiesCurators: Manuel Santos Maia and Lurdes Macedo We would like to thank all the organisations involved and Alice Guerreiro, Estela Gomes, Gracieta Malangatana Ngwenya, Jean Victor Nkolo, João de Almeida, José Paiva, Manuela Bronze, Mutxhini Malangatana Ngwenya, Nuno Bessa Moreira, Richard Gray, Sheila Khan, Vanessa Ribeiro-Rodrigues, final-year students of Dramatic Arts – Acting.

CREDITS

MIRA Galerias | Espaço MIRA

Directed by Manuela Matos Monteiro and João Lafuente

Artistic Director Manuel Santos Maia

Communications Manuela Matos Monteiro and Beatriz Vital