The return of King Ngungunhane iconography (2020-21)

The 125th anniversary of Gaza king Ngungunhane's imprisonment and exile, pivotal moment in Mozambican history, coincided with the return of monuments and graffiti to central areas of various Mozambican cities, symbolizing an acknowledgment of the country's colonial past and signalling a shifting narrative in African-Portuguese relations. Notably, on Terceira Island in the Azores—the final place of Ngungunhane's exile—a unique monument was erected. Shaped as Ngungunhane, it stands in memory of all political prisoners exiled on the Island, reminding of historical injustices and expressing sorrow and guiltiness for the colonial past in Portuguese soil.
The reemergence of visual representations in Mozambique reflects a cyclical pattern of construction and demolition, echoing the nation's tumultuous history. Following independence in 1975, the removal of Mouzinho de Albuquerque's statue Ngungunhane—the colonial hero depicted alongside Ngungunhane—marked a symbolic rupture with the colonial past. However, the subsequent installation of Ngungunhane's bust in Manjacaze, Gaza province, stirred controversy, revealing underlying tensions surrounding national historical narratives and the complexities of memory.
Recent iconography observed during fieldwork in 2022 further elucidates evolving perspectives on colonial history. From the monumental statue in Chimoio to the graffiti in Manjacaze (dressed in European fashion) and Inhambane (sensitizing on Covid-19 issues), new visual representations offer insights into Mozambican collective memory and the complexities of historical interpretation. By analysing the dialogue between these representations over time, this commemoration aims to reflect on the symbolic meanings embedded within Mozambique's commemorative landscape and trace the evolution of public discourse surrounding imperialism and colonialism.