Taken a couple of days ago in Ilha do Mocambique, a small island forgotten some 2500km from Mozambiquan capital Maputo.

It is less than 3 km long but has more than 1500 years of history. Until 1898 this was the capital of the Portuguese colony of Mozambique and the focal point of their trade and industry. The island was a major Arab port and boatbuilding centre long before Vasco da Gama visited in 1498. The island is an amazing melting pot of cultures with influences of Madagascar, Tanzania, India, Portugal, Brazil, and the Middle East, even if 85% of the inhabitants are Muslims.

Today, the island is a maze of narrow streets hemmed by tall buildings with a bustling harbour and market.

I decided to work there in a school for the Art in All of Us activities. It was a long trip from Lilongwe (capital of Malawi) to get this Pearl of the Ocean. No direct transport to do the about 1000 km to the Island. It is then with patience, smile and craziness that we traveled 180 km of minibus, 60 km of pick up, 15 km of bushtaxi, 7km of bicycle, 10km by foot, 180 hitchhiking, 550 km by train, 4 km by foot, 125 km of minibus, 55 km of minibus to reach the embark to the Ilha. It was worth the nearly 3 days and nights of travel and transpiration. Kids of the visited school were really amazing and so creative ! Their drawings and poetries will be uploaded soon on our website. In the meanwhile you can see recent uploaded Jordan gallery [link]

This picture was taken early morning in front of the green Mosque. It was prayer time. A magic moment we spent before school starts !

No photoshop on this picture. Straight from my Nikon D200!


Anthony

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