First it should not be forgotten that the Macua have a conception of the person which is different from the Western individualistic one. The  Macua individuals cannot  conceive themselves alone, isolated from society. Being means “being in relationship with others.” This does not mean that the individual is completely canceled, absorbed by the community, on the contrary, but surely the social and family ties are much tighter and stronger than the ones  in the West.

As a reaction to this  the individuals often seek subterfuge to get away from these constraints; we should never forget  that there are rules in a society, of course, but there are also practical ways with the help of which they  often try to yield, adapt or escape the strict regulations and official requirements.

Many Mozambican stories are based  on the adventures and misfortunes of those who try to be clever, the tricksters, the ones who try to escape from these requirements and find shortcuts, the ones who try to do things only for their  own benefit without considering the other members of the family or of the community.

This approach, which is common in all Mozambique, has serious consequences. It is basically a survival strategy necessary for those living in poverty, because in times of trouble, the whole family, even sixth generation  cousins, come to help; but it is also a limit that prevents them from escaping from poverty. In fact, those who at some point manage, in some way, to have a slightly better economic condition are always the ones who  need to supply more in case of problems of family members, finding themselves having to redistribute the little extra that they had laboriously gained. I have read at least two sociological studies carried out in the center of Mozambique showing that those who had a better economic situation as compared to the majority  were those who had nearly cut off the relations with their families. Poverty (that is a social principle that allows the continuity of a state of poverty) reproduces  poverty.

This principle has great impact on the actions one wants to carry out within the community. A project that wants to help a particular target of individuals of the community often fails because others are excluded too much, and it is not welcome that only some people receive and others don’t. The beneficiaries themselves often self-sabotage the project in order to avoid problems, jealousies and conflicts with other members of the community.

Therefore, it is always of utmost importance to consult the communities beforehand in order to decide who and how help with a certain initiative.

THE MACUA – Social structure

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