Portuguese Mozambicans
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Portuguese Mozambicans (Portuguese: luso-moçambicanos) are Mozambican-born descendants of Portuguese settlers.
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[edit] History
Portuguese explorers turned to present-day Mozambique and two other PALOP nations (Angola and Guinea-Bissau) to bring black slaves to Portugal before bringing them to work for their plantations in their Latin American province, the present-named Brazil, in 14th century. But first permanent Portuguese communities in the region were made in 16th century. The whole region was divided into prazos (agricultural estates), to be lived by Portuguese settler families in 17th century. Mozambique was considered a Portuguese province in 19th century. In early 20th century, mainland government permitted more white emigration and settlement to the region, and Mozambique has 250,000 Portuguese settlers, who improved its economy, in 1960s. But it was the time António de Oliveira Salazar led Portugal, few thousands of them fled to other countries, especially neighboring Zimbabwe and South Africa, Brazil, or United States. Blacks and some mestiços and whites revolted against Portuguese rule in 1974, and because of this, Portuguese gave independence to blacks in 1975. Most Portuguese residents went away after that, and blacks who want to remain in Portuguese rule were sad for their exodus since the Portuguese improved their economy (like other PALOP states). Most of them went to Portugal, where they were called retornados and were not welcomed, while others moved to neighboring Malawi, Zimbabwe, or South Africa, and/or Brazil or United States. Thousands of Portuguese left again during civil war, most of these fled to South Africa, Swaziland, or Portugal.
When Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries was founded in 1996, many Portuguese and some Portuguese Brazilian settlers arrived for economic and educational aid to Mozambique. They increase Portuguese-language fluency especially to remote rural places and made economy improved, as metical has a large value converted from Euro. Among them adopted the country as their permanent home. Many more Portuguese settlers arrive and Portuguese population increased to more than 50,000.
[edit] Language
They all speak Portuguese, which is also official language and lingua franca of Mozambique. Their dialect called Mozambican Portuguese is closer to Standard European Portuguese than Brazilian dialects. Among them speak one of main Bantu languages (like Xitsonga, Makhuwa, and Ndau dialect of Shona) as second languages. Many educated Portuguese Mozambicans speak English, as it is an international lingua franca and Mozambique is a member of Commonwealth of Nations.
[edit] Religion
Most Portuguese are Christians belonging to Roman Catholic Church, while the rest are Protestants. Some are Jews, whose ancestors escaped Inquisition.
[edit] See also
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