960 Agostinho Neto Avenue – Maputo
Kuxa Kanema Digitization Project
Kuxa Kanema (which in the Changana language means “The Birth of Cinema”) was not only a newsreel of current events; it was also Mozambique’s first major film school. Created in 1977, shortly after independence, its mission was to bring the image of the people to the people themselves, documenting the construction of the new nation.
The National Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries (INICC, IP) has taken a decisive step in safeguarding Mozambique’s visual history through the digitization project of the “Kuxa Kanema” archive. This effort aims not only to preserve vulnerable physical media but also to provide public access to one of the most important documentary archives on the African continent.
The transition from analog to digital format ensures that Mozambique’s history will not be erased by time. Through this joint effort between INICC, the Portuguese Cinematheque, and project funders, the “birth of cinema” now gains a lasting life, accessible to researchers, filmmakers, and the Mozambican public.
Strategic Partnerships
The technical execution of this project is supported by the specialized expertise of the Portuguese Cinematheque – Museum of Cinema, IP. This international collaboration ensures that the restoration and digital conversion process follows the highest international standards of film preservation, guaranteeing that the original quality of the images is maintained for future generations.
First Phase (2023)
The first phase marked the beginning of the process with the digitization of the first 32 editions. The support and funding provided by Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) were crucial for establishing the working protocols and enabling the first shipments to the laboratories of the National Archive of Moving Images at the Portuguese Cinematheque – Museum of Cinema, IP, in Portugal. This initiative demonstrated the positive impact of corporate social responsibility in supporting culture through EDM.
Second Phase
The second phase represents a significant quantitative leap, with the digitization of 192 additional editions. Financed by the State Budget, this phase highlights the Government of Mozambique’s recognition of Kuxa Kanema as a priority National Heritage.
National Mapping and Registration of Arts and Culture Professionals and Operators in the Cultural and Creative Sector
The implementation of the national mapping and registration of arts and culture professionals and operators in the cultural and creative sector aims to collect information that will enable the assessment of the value of Cultural and Creative Industries within the economy in general. This will be achieved through identifying their scale and actors, which can be quantified using data such as: i) employment, ii) number of entities, iii) size of cultural and creative enterprises, iv) imports and exports, v) gross value added, and vi) workforce segmentation, among other aspects.
The information collected through the mapping and registration process will be important and should be used as a baseline to analyze economic trends, their impacts, and to identify challenges and development opportunities within the cultural and creative sector in the country. With reliable data, it will be possible to formulate effective public policies, develop appropriate support programs, mobilize investments, structure financing mechanisms, as well as stimulate entrepreneurship, competitiveness, technological modernization, and innovation.
The first pilot study was conducted in 2022, covering a total of 2,012 participants, including 1,544 professionals and 468 operators, in the cities of Maputo, Matola, Inhambane, Beira, Chimoio, and Nampula. The second study aims to cover the remaining provinces, including urban and peri-urban areas, with the expectation of reaching approximately 10,000 professionals and operators in the sector.
INCUBARTE: National Incubator for Cultural and Creative Industries
The INCUBARTE project aims to create a space dedicated to promoting innovation, professionalization, and the development of cultural and creative enterprises in the country. This space will function as a collaborative and creative experimentation environment where cultural projects can develop with technical support, specialized training, and access to collaboration networks. The initiative includes the rehabilitation and adaptation of the physical space adjacent to the building of the National Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries, in the city of Maputo.
This project emerges as a response to the need to strengthen the national creative ecosystem by providing adequate infrastructure and structured capacity-building programs for professionals in the arts and culture sector. Its design includes the creation of coworking areas, training rooms, creative studios, and networking spaces, equipped with functional furniture, audiovisual equipment, and internet access. This environment will enable artists, creators, and cultural entrepreneurs to develop businesses, innovative projects, and sustainable pathways to international markets for the placement of their creative products and services.
The project is expected to contribute to the dynamization of the creative economy in Mozambique by promoting cultural entrepreneurship, job creation, and the strengthening of value chains within the cultural and creative industries. It is also expected to position the incubator as a reference within the national public network of cultural infrastructure, serving as a model for future creative incubation initiatives in other regions of the country, thereby reinforcing the potential of arts and culture as drivers of innovation, social inclusion, and economic development.