The Mozambican visual artist Noel Langa died on Thursday, aged 86, at Maputo Central Hospital, after an illness. His death marks the end of a career of more than 50 years, in which he raised Mozambique’s profile on the national and international art scene.
Born in 1938 in Mandhlhakaze, in Gaza province, Langa began his studies in Decorative Painting in 1960, at the Mouzinho de Albuquerque Industrial School. His works, recognised for their vibrant colours and themes depicting Mozambican experiences and stories, made him an essential reference in the visual arts in the country.
Throughout his career, he took part in numerous solo and group exhibitions, both in Mozambique and abroad, in countries including Angola, Nigeria, Algeria, Germany, Portugal and England.
His work, often inspired by everyday life in the "Bairro Indígena" (now the Munhuana neighbourhood), projected Mozambique onto the global stage, and was widely admired by the public and critics alike.
