Os Homens do Mato; The Men of the Bush

Abstract

The Mozambican Civil War is remembered for its devastating effects, scarring the country’s suffering people, yet only from the perspective of its victors, the government party Frelimo. The story of the rebel forces opposing them, Renamo, was silenced. With the focus on Renamo, readers gain an insight into terror warfare, the use of child soldiers, political discourses, post-war integration efforts, and the dynamics of external involvement. This thesis encompasses an anthropological analysis of relevant themes expressed in the culture of guerilla warfare, through those who did not reap the benefits of victory. Additionally, a more personal perception has been revealed of those fighting for Renamo, who have now been given a means to express their stories. With gaining a new perspective on a war that had harmed so many people, we reach an understanding that war and terror is multi-faceted, dynamic in the different actors at play, and, essentially, brutal in it catastrophic qualities for the gain of power.