The former and third President of the Republic of Mozambique, Armando Guebuza, today launched the second edition of his book "Os Tambores Cantam" (The Drums Sing). The ceremony, held at the Galeria-Porto in Maputo, was attended by prominent figures from the country, including the second president, Alberto Joaquim Chissano.
The work, originally published 18 years ago in 2006, was written during the National Liberation Struggle and contains approximately 30 poems. Guebuza stated that the objective of this new edition is to inspire new generations in building a better homeland, valuing the sacrifice that led to Mozambique's independence from colonial rule.
According to Guebuza, the stories told in the book aim to inspire young people, sharing the spirit of sacrifice and struggle that their predecessors demonstrated. “In this new edition, we want the new generations to embody the spirit of sacrifice and struggle that their parents and grandparents showed in order to have this country with the achievements it has attained, of which we should all be proud. We intend for them to continue dreaming,” Guebuza stated.
He emphasized that literature plays a fundamental role in preserving the moral and social values of a society. "Literature always reminds us who we were and the beauty of our things, our land, and our way of life, and how these things should be valued, preserved, and, if necessary, fought for."“
Guebuza also criticized the negative perception some have of Africans, stating that the human qualities of Mozambicans are often misinterpreted as corruption. “The task of some people is to convince Africans that their community, their family, and their relatives represent a danger. So, they say that the cause of corruption in Africa is the connection they have with each other. The most human qualities that we have have become corruption, but only for them. Let them continue to think it's corruption; we believe it's a value to preserve and continue to defend.”
Despite publishing a written work, Guebuza highlighted the importance of orality in transmitting values, especially during the National Liberation Struggle. “Both in the clandestine struggle and in the direct struggle, culture was one of the battlefronts. The objectives of our struggle were disseminated, and internal support from Mozambicans and foreigners was mobilized for the liberation of all and the eradication of colonialism. The act of being a poet ceased to be confined to a small group of verse-makers and became a popular art.”
The new edition of “Os Tambores Cantam” (The Drums Sing) was dedicated to Joaquim Alberto Chissano, whom Guebuza considers his older brother. The launch of this work reaffirms Guebuza's commitment to using literature as a tool to inspire and educate future generations of Mozambicans.
