Historical Dictionary of Mozambique

Journal of Third World Studies, Spring 2008 by Biedzynski, James

Azevedo, Mario, Emmanuel Nnadozie and Tome Mbuia Joao (eds.). Historical Dictionary of Mozambique (second Edition). Lanham, Scarecrow Press, 2003. 302 pp.

Mozambique is an important if somewhat unknown country in southern Africa. It has had a long, violent and painful history. Mozambique deserves to be better known and this reference work helps to do just that. The authors possess considerable background on the subject and have put toghether a very useful reference work.

The Dictionary demonstrates die English language world knows relatively little about Mozambique and to an extent operates towards the country out of ignorance. The West, in particular, needs to understand Mozambique's problems more clearly. This is a country that was exploited by Portugal and has suffered from incompetent independent governments. Mozambique has great potential which will not be realized without external help and a more sensible government. Indeed, the main political movements, Frelimo and Renamo, fought each other more than the Mozambiqans fought the Portugese.

Portugal's record in Mozambique is mixed. Not every Portugese who went to Mozambique tried to exploit the natives. Portugal can still offer constructive help to her former colony as part of a larger Lusophone commonwealth. Mozambique can also forge ties to Angola and Brazil as well. It has often been said South Africa is the engine that can pull Southern Africa out of poverty. If Mozambique could work with South Africa here, the engine could be mightier yet.

I hope this dictionary inspires more scholars to study Mozambique. This is a country that is not well known in the United States but could become more important in the years to come. Let us hope that continued ignorance does not hamper the development of Mozambique.

James Biedzynski Middlesex County College