Mozambique’s Xiquitsi Orchestra on cultural exchange in Ireland – Photos

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Mozambique’s Xiquitsi Orchestra on cultural exchange in Ireland – Photos

12:53 CAT | 06 Aug 2025

All photos: Courtesy of Embassy of Ireland in Mozambique

Ten young musicians from the Mozambican Xiquitsi Orchestra project are in Ireland for two weeks to participate in the Feakle Festival and a cultural exchange with the Irish band Cnoc na Gaoithe in the village of Tulla, County Clare. The visit is led by Kika Materula (former Minister of Culture),director of the Xiquitsi project.

The delegation was warmly welcomed on Monday by Irish Minister of State Timmy Dooley and Paula Nolan of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs at an official welcome ceremony in Tulla. The arrival marks the start of a series of joint activities, including collaborative rehearsals, workshops and a performance at the prestigious Feakle Festival 2025, one of Ireland’s largest traditional music events.

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This visit was made possible with the support of the Irish Embassy in Mozambique, which has been collaborating with and funding the Xiquitsi project since 2015. More than just a musical exchange, the initiative is part of Ireland’s foreign policy objectives, as outlined in its international cooperation policy “A Better World”, which advocates the promotion of people-to-people linkages as a means of strengthening international relations, solidarity and mutual understanding.

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Xiquitsi, based in Maputo, has as its mission social inclusion and human development through the collective teaching of classical music. This exchange represents a unique opportunity for young Mozambican musicians to share their culture, explore new musical languages and establish lasting connections with young Irish people, in a spirit of mutual learning and intercultural respect. The Embassy of Ireland reaffirms its commitment to initiatives that promote youth, culture and bridge-building between communities.

Source: Embassy of Ireland in Mozambique /Media Release