Strengthening the Creative Industries for Development in ... - unctad

12 PART 3. CREATIVE INDUSTRIES POLICY REVIEW
Chart 1: Mozambique Creative Industry Trade Performance, 2003-2008
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Mozambique Creative Industries Trade Performance (2003-2008)
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
(in millions of US)
Source: UNCTAD global database on the creative economy
3.1 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK AROUND THE CREATIVE ECONOMY
Imports
Exports
Since independence in 1975, the Government of Mozambique has always given culture a key role in
its official discourse. While years of civil war and political and economic strife have eroded much of
the country, there is still an underlying cultural basis on which Mozambique can build.
In fact, the first cultural act of the new independent government in 1975 was to create a Cinema
Institute. 29 The Mozambican-born film director Ruy Guerra returned to Mozambique following
independence to help plan the film industry. World-renowned film-makers like Jean Rouch and Jean-
Luc Godard were invited to the country to carry out training and help develop national cinema
policies. It is not only in the cinema sector that Mozambique had begun to cultivate a strong local
culture. The country has also made its mark internationally in the areas of visual arts especially wood
sculptures, as well as in literature and poetry. For example, the intricate wood carvings of the
Makonde art coming from the northern parts of the country are well known throughout the world by
those involved in the market of African visual arts, just as the name of Malangatana 30 enjoys wide
recognition as a vibrant expression of African contemporary art.
In literary circles, for example, José Craveirinha was awarded the Premio Camões in 1991, the world’s
highest honour for lusophone literature. He was considered several times for the Nobel Prize for
Literature. In 2003, President Chissano declared Craveirinha a “national hero” of Mozambique. More
recently, the work of the renowned Mozambican writer Mia Couto is gaining wider recognition
nationally and internationally.
The government recently launched an export promotion campaign called “Made in Mozambique” 31 .
This campaign has been directed at the more classic industries without any focus on the creative
sectors. While the economic rationale behind such a campaign is clear, underlying it is also the
29
Information based on discussions with Camillo de Sousa. Maputo, 3 September 2008.
30
Valente Malengatana Ngwenya, is one of the most famous artists from Mozambique, his art – work, paintings,
sculptures, ceramics – has been exhibited in many countries around the world. He continues to influence new
generations of African plastic artists. In 1997 he was named UNESCO Artist for Peace.
31
An initiative of the Ministry of Tourism to promote the image of Mozambique as an attractive African tourist
destination, September 2008.