NASTASYA TAY + YIANNIS HADJIASLANIS went to Mozambique and came back with some stories to tell.
If you are interested in having a look at the photographs from the trip, shoot us an email here, and we'll send you the password to download the contact sheets in PDF.
In the meantime, we're putting features together on the following.
TRAVEL/MUSIC: TAKE THE SLOW TRAIN
North of Maputo, Mozambique’s Gwaza Muthini festival continues til dawn, but the party begins within the spearmint walls of the capital’s old train station. The slow train to Marracuene departs as the sun passes its summit, filled with musicians, artists and poets. Slouched on red vinyl, bongo drummers tap out a simple rhythm, mimicked by the swaying hips and swinging elbows of ululating ladies in the aisles, as bottles of Laurentina Clara slowly warm in the sweaty carriages. Children running in maize fields alongside overtake the leisurely train, picking up marrabenta music lovers along the way.
A feature on the 3-day festival celebrating the music at the heart of all things Mozambican, the train that takes you there, and the dark filled with drums, dancing and locally brewed canju love potion.
TRAVEL: TWO SIDES OF THE STRAIT
On the edge of the Mozambique Channel, on the outskirts of Vilankulo town, and across the Bazaruto archipelago, two very different escapes have recently re-opened. The newly restored Art Deco beauty - the Dona Ana - now stares out towards the Indian Ocean in her freshly-painted rose-pink glory, and, further north, the classic Indigo Bay Bazaruto island resort is given a 5-star makeover by the Anantara group, making it their new flagship resort in Southern Africa.
A feature on the history and secrets of the Dona Ana as told through the eyes of some of its oldest staff, and the seaside holiday heritage of Vilankulo; contrasted with the everything-catered-for option of the Anantara, all white sand, dune horseback rides and spas.
Individual stories are also available for both hotels. Just send us a note.