Background
Mozambique is a context of great economic and political unpredictability, weak state institutions, closing civil society space and internalised fear in the aftermath of the civil war and the repression of popular protests. While there are a number of artists who (in)directly engage in contestation, little is known about citizens’ views on these expressions and whether popular culture can be a vehicle for social and political commentary and for expressing discontent (beyond the artists themselves).
About this research
This project sought to answer the following research questions:
- What notions of empowerment and accountability are expressed through popular culture?
- In what ways Mozambicans identify, engage and contest them?
- To what extent these cultural forms influence interactions among citizens and between them and state and non-state actors?
The project findings contribute to improving our understanding of the distinction between empowerment and accountability as well as of the diverse constellations of collaboration and conflicts between various state and non-state actors.
Key contacts
