The Province of Cabo Delgado
Cabo Delgado is the home of the Makonde ethnic group originally concentrated in the Mueda plateau. They are a people with very strong, unique culture with a natural talent for wood and ivory carving. They still practice their ancestral customs such as ritual tattooing and teeth filing.
Points of note about the Province
- It is the cradle of the Makonde nation ;
- Is a great production centre of marble and precious woods;
- The Quirimba Islands at present a national park was in the past a great centre for slave trafficking.
General Description
Surface area:
82,625 km2 including 4,758 km2 of inland waters.
Situation:
Northeast extremity of the country
Geographical limits:
North:
The Rovuma river forms the national border with the United Republic of Tanzania.
South:
The Lúrio river separates Cabo Delgado from the province of Nampula.
West:
(from north to south) the Lugenda,Cuambeze, Kuaca and Mewo rivers
that establish the border with the province of Niassa.
East:
The Indian Ocean along a 425 km coast line.
Climate:
The annual average temperature is 26º C.
Population:
1.540.000 inhabitants 51 % of which are women.
Languages:
- Portuguese - is the official language
- Macua, Makonde, Kimwane, Swahili, Ajaua, Macue e Ingoni
Administrative structure:
- 16 districts
- 56 administrative posts
- 125 localities
- approximately 790 villages
Major products:
- marble
- clay
- Graphite
- precious woods.
This province offers extraordinarily beautiful beaches with emerald green waters, reefs and deep Blue Ocean. The Quirimba Archipelago which was in the past a major slave trafficking centre has now become a national conservation reserve.