Mozambique: Former president Chissano visits musician Xidiminguana

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Mozambique: Former president Chissano visits musician Xidiminguana

4:27 CAT | 25 Jan 2024

Photo: Bernardo Domingos on Facebook

Former head of state Joaquim Alberto Chissano on Saturday (20-01) paid a special visit to legendary Mozambican musician Xidimingwana – with no shortage of moments of friendship and exchange of affectionate gestures between the pair.

Bernardo Domingos, the musician’s son, expressed his gratitude to the former president, saying: “Thank you very much, President Chissano, for your humility and for the special visit. Humility makes a man.”

Joaquim Chissano’s presence was not the only one to brighten the day in the Maxaquene C neighbourhood. Renowned singer Elvira Viegas had also visited her colleague and friend.

READ: Mozambique: Xidiminguana still singing at 85

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Earlier this month, Secretary General of the Frelimo party, Roque Silva Samuel,, had also visited the musician..

Roque Silva explained that the aim of the visit was to greet Xidiminguana, a reference in the history of Mozambican culture and music, who has not been in good health.

“We have been talking to you and your children, but it is always good to get closer to see how your health is progressing. We are happy to hear from you that you are recovering and we will continue to pray that your recovery will be speedy and thorough,” Roque Silva said.

Domingos Matias Honwana, better known as “Xidimingwana”, was born on August 3, 1936, in Bilene-Macia, Gaza province.

As a child, Xidimingwana learned to play the “xigogogwani”, a guitar made from a five-litre olive oil can, quite common in rural areas of southern Mozambique.

In 1954, he moved to the then-Lourenço Marques in search of better living conditions, like many young people of his time. Initially, he worked in the home of a Portuguese family, and from 1962 as a machine operator at CFM-Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique, the main state company from the colonial period to the present day. He worked there for almost four decades until retiring in the 2000s.

In 1962, while working at CFM, Xidiminguana found more time to practice his guitar and took the opportunity to walk around the neighbourhoods, playing for his friends. It was these same friends who encouraged him to play and record his songs.

In 1964 he auditioned at Radio Clube de Moçambique and was approved. That same year he recorded his first tape. “I started recording LP records, which were sold. These were made with other artists such as Alexandre Langa, José Guimarães, now deceased, and other musicians of my generation,” says the author of popular favourites such as “Xikona”, “Frelimo”, “Nilhayisse”, “Nikhome Nkata”.

Source: Memeiros / Frelimo on Facebook