Mozambique: Two landmark Beira buildings to be rehabilitated in current 5-year mandate – photos

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Mozambique: Two landmark Beira buildings to be rehabilitated in current 5-year mandate – photos

2:18 CAT | 13 Jul 2020

Photo: Ministério da Cultura e Turismo /Facebook

Two emblematic buildings in the city of Beira will be rehabilitated under the Government’s five-year plan – the historic ‘House of Culture’ [Municipal Auditorium NovoCine] and the magnificent Casa dos Bicos [House of the Beaks].

The Sofala House of Culture, which has hosted several cultural events and which has been the focal point of several national and foreign artists, was built 53 years ago and benefited from a rehabilitation from 2014 to 2018, was partially destroyed by Cyclone Idai, which hit Beira in March of last year.

Speaking on a visit to the historic building, the Minister of Culture said it would be rehabilitated within the present five-year period in order to ensure that the space would once again welcome artists and function as a point of transmission of cultural knowledge.

“During this five-year period, this space, the home of Sofala culture, a home where culture and teaching is transmitted, a space that is the artist’s official welcoming place, will receive all due attention and support on the part of the government. This building will be rehabilitated and re-equipped,” Minister of Culture and Tourism Eldevina Materula said.

The Minister of Culture also visited the emblematic Casa dos Bicos, an unusual building in the centre of Beira. The Casa dos Bicos, like the ‘Casa da Cultura’ has hosted many historical events of national and international scope. Today, it is abandoned and has been crying out for rehabilitation for over a decade.

“Casa dos Bicos is also a great cultural space. Without wanting to go too far, because perspectives are dreams, I must say that the space deserves our full attention and must be cherished. Casa dos Bicos is a cultural icon, and must be rehabilitated and better used. As a government, we guarantee that we will do everything in our power to implement this initiative. This is a certainty that we take away from our visit, and we will fight to achieve this in the coming months,” Minister Materula said.

By Francisco Raiva