After two years of renovation, the century-old Maputo Natural History Museum has been reopened, now offering new conditions for scientific research and for the conservation of its vast collection.
The project, valued at 4.2 million euros and funded by the Government of Italy through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), included the modernisation of laboratories, the installation of solar panels, air-conditioning and lighting systems, the repair of the roof, the construction of indoor toilets and the fitting of a lift.
“Mozambique now has a renewed and modern Natural History Museum, designed for the future of research and conservation,” said Marco Rusconi, director-general of AICS, during the reopening ceremony.
The work resulted from a partnership between the governments of Mozambique and Italy and is described as a symbol of cooperation between the two countries. The museum is expected to help strengthen studies of Mozambican biodiversity and enhance the nation's natural heritage.
The project also included the creation of a Biodiversity Conservation Centre, coordinated by the Polo Museale of Sapienza University of Rome, in collaboration with the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station and the NGO WeWorld.
Among the new features is the opening of new thematic areas, including an ethnographic room with about 500 objects linked to the cultural practices of different Mozambican peoples, such as art, sculpture, music, goldsmithing, ceramics and basketry, enriched by a historical photographic collection.
Founded in 1911 and housed since 1933 in a Manueline-style building from the Portuguese colonial period, the Natural History Museum is considered one of the country's most emblematic monuments. The space had been closed since October 2023 for the works now completed.
