Xonguila Magazine held, on 15 December at the Hotel Cardoso in Maputo, the first edition of the Xonguila Excellence Awards, a ceremony dedicated to recognising people, projects and institutions that consistently contribute to the development of Mozambique.
The event brought together guests from different fields and established itself as a space for collective celebration, reflection and appreciation of national talent, including contributions made throughout 2024. The ceremony was originally planned for last year but was rescheduled because of the situation in the country at the time, which made it possible to make this first edition more comprehensive.
During the afternoon, awards were presented to figures in culture, sport, communication, science, entrepreneurship, education and social impact, as well as to collective projects with a direct impact on Mozambican society. Among the individual honours, those awarded to Amade Sambo, Melchior Ferreira, Paulo Chibanga, Carlos Serra, Sebastião Coana, Nuno Lima, Alcinda Panguana, Severino Ngoenha, Alice Parsotamo and Paulina Chiziane stood out, the last of these for her legacy.
On the collective side, recognition went to Girl Move Academy, Mozambique Fashion Week 20 Years, Plataforma Makobo, Gorongosa National Park and Plataforma Tabater, in areas ranging from education to digital innovation, the creative industry, sustainability and heritage.
The Xonguila Excellence Seals 2025 were also presented to restaurants and hotels that stand out for the quality of their service, their consistency and the experience they offer. In this first edition, the seals covered only the city of Maputo, with a national expansion planned for 2026.
During the ceremony, the launch of the Xonguila Gala 2026 was announced, a larger-scale event to be held in November 2026, which will feature national and international artists, fashion, dinner and cultural experiences.
With this initiative, Xonguila reinforces its commitment to celebrating positive examples, rewarding merit and showcasing role models who inspire the present and future of Mozambique.
