SWAHILI TRADERS: The history of Ibo Island is closely related to that of Ihla the Mozambique. Recorded history starts with the Muslim traders. In the 9th and 10th centuries the unifying impact of the Islam on Arabia helped the trade in the Indian Ocean to flourish. They established a large commercial network in the Gulf of Oman, stretching down the East African coastline, down to the Quirimbas Archipelago and Ibo, and further to Ihla de Moçambique and Sofala.

 

By the 13th century the entire East African seaboard was linked by a string of thriving ports and city states (Mogadishu, Brava, Malindi, Pemba, Zanzibar, Mombasa, Mafia, Kilwa and Sofala). Large trading dhows would sail down the coast, using the northerly winds during November to April and sail back again on the Southerly winds from May to October.  These winds are called the Trade Winds. Iron implements, cloth, glass, and beads were traded for ivory, gold and slaves.

 

This blend of Arab and African traders created a unique culture, Swahili. These skilled traders decorated large mansions with Isfahan carpets and Sung China porcelain.

  

PORTUGUESE ERA: During the late 15th century Europe decided to break the stronghold of Ottoman Turks on the Red Sea route. The Portuguese, the greatest seafaring nation of the West at that time, first rounded Cape of Good Hope and discovered a new route to India. That was the time of the ‘great disoverers’ Batholomeu Diaz and Vasco da Gama. With their superior ships and trained soldiers they enabled the destruction of the existing trading posts in their search for Monapa’s gold. Portugal dominated the trade between India and Europe despite the strong competition from the Dutch, English and French. By the end of the 17th century there was an increased demand for slaves, who were mostly transported to Brazil (also a Portuguese colony).

 

The islands were the first to be occupied by foreigners as they offered natural defence capabilities but were still close enough to the continent. Ibo had a big fresh water reserve trapped in the coral, which made it an especially popular residence. As Ibo rose in importance under the Portuguese, a fort was constructed and the island’s prosperity peaked in the late 18th century as it became the mayor supplier of slaves to the sugar plantations of French Indo-Chine.

Life on Ibo underwent deep changes in the 18th and 19th centuries when attacks by other groups (the Sacalaves from Madagascar and the Mafite from Niassa) made it necessary to improve the island’s defences. In 1791 the big 5-pointed Fortaleza São João Baptista was built, in 1818 the smaller Fortim Santo Antonio was completed and some 50 years later another Fortim was added on the seaside, Fortim São Jose.

 

In 1897, Ibo was incorporated into the territories of the Companhia do Niassa and Ibo became the capital of the Cabo Delgado province.  

 

Ibo’s decline started early 1900’s mainly due to a lack of a decent deep-sea harbour and trading operations moved to the nearby harbour of Porto Amelia (now known as Pemba, Mozambique). In 1902 the headquarters of the Cabo Delgado province were transferred to Porto Amelia, by which Ibo lost all administrative importance. In 1952 a landing strip was built in an effort to revive the local industry. The island slumbered for the last 100 years, left to the local fisherfolk who had little use for the grand abandoned mansions and admin buildings.

 

The 19th century was a time of consolidation and stabilisation. During the Scramble for Africa the borders were set for ‘Portuguese East Africa’. A treaty was signed with Paul Kruger (RSA) to establish the borders and the South Africans were granted a railway line and access to the port of Lourenco Marques (Maputo). Huge foreign charter companies got right to trade and the territory began to prosper.

 

In the first half of the 20th century, thousands of settlers (colonatos) poured in from Portugal and Mozambique boomed under the rule of the Portuguese dictator Salazar. Modern towns with red-roofed buildings, boulevards and bandstands sprung up. The Assimilado System made sure that Portuguese citizenship could be granted to Africans on condition they could meet very strict requirements. However, the most able-bodied men ended up working in the South African Mines.

 

In 1951 Mozambique was declared a province of Portugal, but the resistance to the colonial rule increased.

 

CIVIL WAR: In 1962 Frelimo (the Moz Liberation Front) led by Eduardo Mondlane started a military campaign. By 1966 the North of Mozambique was mainly under Frelimo control. The war dragged on until Salazar was overthrown in 1974 by a new socialist government who granted independence to its African province.

 

REPUBLIC: In 1975 Mozambique became a People’s republic under Samora Machel. However, the country was in a bad shape after the civil war and the exodus of Portuguese skills and capital. Mozambique supported ZANU in its liberation struggle of Rhodesia/ Zimbabwe and the ANC in their liberation struggle of South Africa, so the Zim and RSA governments did their best to destabilise their neighbour. They trained, supported and equipped Renamo (Moz National Resistance) and the civil war continued. The situation improved when RSA limited their support towards Renamo and Mozambique switched from Marxism to an open market economy. In 1992 Renamo and Frelimo signed a peace agreement. In 1994 Frelimo won the first elections with Joaquim Chissano as president.

 

Now Mozambique is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, thanks to the inflow of Foreign investment and the discovery of oil and gas.

History

 Cinco Portas Pensão