Recruitment of Madeirans to the Limpopo Colony (Mozambique) between 1960 and 1962

Abstract

This article sheds light on the recruitment of settlers from Madeira for the Limpopo settlement in Mozambique, between 1960 and 1962. The methodology employed involved the analysis of official documents from the Madeira Archives and Library (Arquivo e Biblioteca da Madeira), regional press, photographs from the National Archive Torre do Tombo (Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo) and the Overseas Historical Archives (Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino), and specialized bibliography.
The results reveal that a significant number of 580 individuals, distributed among 82 families, were selected for the colonization of the Limpopo valley in just three years. The municipality of Santana was the one which sent the most quantity of settlers. This study concludes that Madeira played a significant role in the history of Portuguese settlement
in the Limpopo region, Mozambique, contributing significantly to the colonization project and leaving a lasting cultural heritage, which continues to influence local life and economy. With this work, we add a contribution to the understanding of the history of Madeira and the Portuguese colonial period.

Keywords

Colonization; Limpopo Colony; Settlers from Madeira.