Local culture in Mozambique

Expats travelling to Mozambique are in for a unique mix of Bantu, Swahili, Arabic and Western cultures. The country is vibrant and welcoming, shaped by both colonial Portuguese and local African influences.

Locals are generally friendly and respectful, although the high levels of poverty seen in parts of the country can be jarring to new arrivals.

Language barrier in Mozambique

The official language of Mozambique is Portuguese, and expats unable to speak it tend to feel a sense of isolation. The inability to communicate thoughts and feelings or even simple requests can complicate everyday life. English is not widely spoken outside the capital city, and although there are various translation and interpreting services available, the language barrier can become quite frustrating.

New arrivals should prioritise speaking and understanding some basic Portuguese to ease the transition and lessen the frustration caused by the language barrier.

Cultural differences in Mozambique

Mozambicans are not strict on punctuality, which may cause some frustration. This can impact how you live in the country, especially in the case of doing business.

Public displays of affection are uncommon. It is typical for people to shake hands upon meeting, and for women to kiss other women on the cheek, but only in familiar settings. 

Bureaucracy in Mozambique

Many sectors in Mozambique, from government to education and business, are run in a notoriously bureaucratic fashion, due to the country’s recent colonial past and struggles with conflict and corruption. Expats can expect long queues at public offices and frequent outages of administrative systems.

Poverty in Mozambique

Poverty has been a major challenge for Mozambique since gaining independence in 1975. At that time, the country was listed as one of the world’s poorest. Even today, the country ranks among the lowest in human development, life expectancy and inequality.

The high level of poverty and wealth inequality can come as a shock to expats. Even though the country has made great strides in reducing poverty, ongoing insurgencies in the northern provinces and political instability are proving to be significant roadblocks.

LGBTQ+ in Mozambique

Same-sex activities were decriminalised in Mozambique in 2015. In the capital, Maputo, the attitude toward sexual identity is fairly liberal, while rural areas tend to be more conservative.

Despite being relatively progressive in the African context, Mozambique has yet to legally recognise same-sex marriages or civil unions. Although discrimination based on sexual identity is uncommon, no laws explicitly protect LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination. Expats should be aware that public displays of affection are taboo and should be avoided, regardless of sexual orientation.

Women in Mozambique

Mozambique still has quite a traditional view of women, who are expected to get married and start a family at a young age. This can lead to low levels of education for girls and young women. Many women, particularly in rural areas, work informally in agriculture, tending to crops and livestock. Only a comparatively small number are formally employed.

Despite these challenges, Mozambique is making significant advancements in promoting gender equality, with nearly 50 percent of seats in parliament occupied by women. Efforts to improve the accessibility of jobs and education for women are ongoing.