Mozambique: In remembrance of Chico António

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Mozambique: In remembrance of Chico António

1:16 CAT | 13 Jan 2025

Image: RM

“Remembering Chico António”, at the Massala Mar space in Katembe on Sunday (09-01), brought together friends and art lovers, to celebrate one of the greatest icons of Mozambican music, who passed away on January 13, 2024.

The event included a gastronomic fair, an art workshop for children led by visual artist Tchalata, live music with local artists and special guest, Professor Orlando da Conceição accompanied by Xiwora Mati band and DJ Pateta. A projection of photos portraying musician’s life and work was also on offer, as well as testimonies from friends and fellow artists.

The highlight of the event was the unveiling of a mural dedicated to Chico António, featuring the work of artists Jey Gandhy and Tchalata.

Jey Gandhy focused his work on the portrait of Chico António the musician, while Tchalata’s portrait of António includes a baobab tree as a symbol of the artist’s intervention in society.

Dito Paulo, one of the organizers and a friend of Chico António, says that being part of the initiative is fulfilling the cause of culture, and he also considers it to be one of the ways of immortalizing Chico António’s legacy, namely the issue of love for one’s neighbour.

“This mural is not by Massala Mar; it is a contribution to the Mozambican nation and beyond. Chico was a citizen of the world and citizens from all over the world come here. We believe that they will carry the message that Chico always defended: peace, love and joy, with an emphasis on those most in need.”

Chico António

Born in 1958 in the district of Magude, Maputo province, in southern Mozambique, Chico António grew up in the boarding school of the mission of S. José de Lhanguene. When he was nine years old, he became a soloist in the church’s 50-strong choir, also beginning to learn the trumpet and solfeggio.

Between 1979 and 1992, he was part of groups that composed music based on traditional Mozambican rhythms, such as Grupo Instrumental n°1 de Música Luz, RM (a group from Rádio Moçambique) and Orquestra Marrabenta Star de Moçambique. He toured in England, Holland, Italy, France, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Zimbabwe, Guinea Conakry, Cape Verde and other countries.

In 1990, he won the Discoveries award from RFI (Radio France International) and received a scholarship to study basic piano techniques, arrangements and recording sounds in the studio. He considers Manu Dibango a mentor: he advised him to complete his studies and return to Mozambique to research and encourage other musicians to work on research for the progression of Mozambican music through traditional Mozambican rhythms.

António recorded his first album in 1991 thanks to RFI and the Maison des Cultures du Monde. Chico worked in a laboratory experimenting with the fusion of traditional instruments and rhythms. with modern instruments and rhythms, encouraging professionals and the new generation to work in this direction in order to find a way of being a Mozambican musician.

In October 2014, he released the album Memórias with 15 songs, with highlights such as Baila Maria, Mercandonga, Antlissa Maria, Vai Comer Camarão.

On April 4, 2018, the Maputo City Council awarded him its Career Award in recognition of his actions to promote and value Mozambican culture nationally and abroad.

Chico António’s voice fell silent on January 13, 2024, at Maputo Central Hospital (HCM), after an illness.

Source: Rádio Moçambique