GROUP MEMBERS:

 Veronica Topolewski

Zenobia Jeffries

Shelly Thornton

Caitlin Yamada

Moriah Yeakula

 MISSION:

 The Culture & Religion Group will focus on a variety of issues, in the hopes of narrowing them down in the coming weeks. For starters, it will study a cultural timeline (pre-colonialism, colonialism, socialism, and modernism/pop culture). Within this timeline, it will research how culture and tradition have changed (or remained the same within certain areas). For example, Mozambique’s northern areas still follow a matrilineal model, where ancestry is traced through the woman, whereas southern regions follow a patrilineal model. Additionally, the group will research how religious practices have influenced Mozambicans and their culture. Christianity, Catholicism, Islam and more indigenous religions (which believe in connections with ancestors and the spirit world) will be researched. Finally, the group hopes to tie in culture and religion in Mozambique’s governing system. In Western democracies, significance is placed on separation of church and state. This group will aim to find out if a similar practice occurs in Mozambique, or if religion and culture are not so distinct from its government.

 PEOPLE/SOURCES BEFORE, DURING, AFTER TRIP:

 1) BEFORE TRIP: Lily Cowles – I was fortunate enough to connect (via facebook) with Lily, a Princeton University student, after reading an article about her experience in Mozambique studying religion (she, too, had to learn Portuguese and filmmaking within a short time period to produce her final thesis project) – please see post/link #2 below. After our group meets on Wednesday, I plan on calling Lily to get some thoughts/advice.

 2) DURING TRIP: Although we don’t have specific contacts yet, our group should connect with Mozambicans in both Maputo and those in the countryside who practice different religions/cultures. If possible, speaking with religious leaders in both areas would be helpful as well.

 OTHER TO DO’S: 

1)      Figure out what locations other than Maputo our group is able to travel to.

2)      Figure out availability of translators and learn Portuguese!

 GROUP – PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD TO/EDIT OUR GROUP’S MISSION STATEMENT – I TRIED SUMMARIZING WHAT WE DISCUSSED LAST CLASS AS BEST AS I COULD.

-Veronica