On Tuesday, 4 March, BCI opened the exhibition "Recordando o Mestre Malangatana" ("Remembering Master Malangatana") in its auditorium in Maputo, as a posthumous tribute to one of Mozambique's greatest artists, Malangatana Valente Ngwenya. The show, which brings together 25 emblematic works, is a tribute to the depth and innovation that marked the career of this giant of contemporary African art, whose brushstrokes portray Mozambique.
The Minister of Education and Culture, Samaria Tovela, who witnessed the opening ceremony, said: "This tribute is very well deserved. We are Mozambicans; we must know where we come from and, above all, pass on what is our tradition, our history, what makes us this multicultural Mozambique”. Samaria Tovela highlighted the importance of preserving cultural traditions and passing that knowledge on to future generations. "It is vital that young people grow up aware of our country's cultural richness and of the importance of continuing to value and transmit it", she added.
Art has the power to tell stories, preserve memories and strengthen identities. - Mutxhini Malangatana
The Chairman of BCI's Executive Committee, Francisco Costa, for his part, reiterated BCI's commitment to continue supporting culture, stressing the importance of joining forces for the common good: "this is a way that we consider important: to promote and value Mozambique's cultural heritage. It was a challenge, but we can continue to work further, as there are many other artists and opportunities to preserve this enormous cultural legacy", he said.
On the same occasion, BCI Director Luís Aguiar highlighted the importance of honouring Malangatana, a man whose artistic genius continues to bring prestige to the country. "Through his art, Malangatana represented and projected Mozambique in various galleries and museums around the world, and is seen as an icon of the nation", he said. "It is vital to continue valuing this legacy, keeping alive the memory, impact and reach of his work", Aguiar stressed, recalling past exhibitions organised by the Bank that exalted the greatness of the Master, such as the 'Retrospective of the Last 30 Years of Malangatana's Life and Work' (2005) and the show "40 years, 40 artists" (2015), which brought together generations and styles, with special emphasis on Malangatana's brushstrokes. Mutxhini Malangatana, Director of the Malangatana Foundation, added a reflection: “Art has the power to tell stories, preserve memories and strengthen identities. Malangatana, with his vibrant expression, captured the soul of the Mozambican people, their struggles, hopes and dreams.”
The exhibition, marked at the opening ceremony by the presence of family, friends, artists, art lovers and enthusiasts, is open to the public, with free admission, until 31 March.
