Community Voices >> Voices of Gorongosa >> Community Stories

Traditions Carrying Memory, Identity and Resilience

Set at the southern tip of the Great African Rift Valley, Gorongosa is a place of both profound beauty and deep history. In the late 1970s, civil war swept through the region, leaving behind a trail of devastation that lasted 16 years.

By the time peace was restored, over a million lives had been lost, the land was scarred and more than 90% of the park’s large mammals had disappeared.

But Gorongosa is a story of renewal. The national park has become not only a beacon for ecological restoration, but also a model for community-driven development. Today, it supports over 200,000 people living in the buffer zones—helping to rebuild lives, preserve traditions and empower new generations.

This project is our way of honoring the voices of Gorongosa—voices that sing of healing, strength and cultural pride. Through their music, we celebrate both the past and the vibrant future of this remarkable region.

Nhamissongora Rio Children’s Cultural Group

Eduardo Mondlane Cultural Group

Nhamissongora Aldeia Cultural Group

Chibango Cultural Group

Zion Christian Church

The Princess of Gorongosa

The Igreja Pentacostal Unida Luz Do Mundo Gospel Church

Jekenisheni Church

Grupo Coral Distrital

Culture and Community