Capulana is the name given, in Mozambique, to a cloth that is traditionally used by women
The richness of colors and motifs is a characteristic of the cultural and artistic wealth of the country.
Woman with capulana (21th Century) by Yassmin ForteVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Women use the capulana in their day-to-day to cover the body and sometimes the head. Its use also goes far beyond fashion: the fabric is used by women to carry backpacks, and for numerous functions, such as towel, curtain, table cloth.
With the capulana, the first child is also carried on the back.
The harvest of the year is loaded.
They are still preserved and passed from one generation to the next and with them the stories of the women who own them.
And are used at parties to dance.
Women group (21th Century) by Yassmin ForteVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Generally used in ceremonies of great importance, older women tie the capulana, or “mucume ni vemba” (a special capulana, with the size of three of the fabrics, decorated with white lace), this serves to demonstrate that the woman is an adult and housewife.
Capulana on the waist - first tie (21th Century) by Yassmin ForteVirtual Museum of Lusophony
The affection and care with which women treat this fabric is special. This is the first step to wear the capulana.
Capulana on the waist - second tie (21th Century) by Yassmin ForteVirtual Museum of Lusophony
This is the second step to wear the capulana.
Capulana on the waist - finishing (21th Century) by Yassmin ForteVirtual Museum of Lusophony
This is the third step to wear the capulana.
The capulana is present in the moments of joy and in the less joyful moments, it is part of the life of the African woman.
Nothern Mozambican women (21th Century) by Yassmin ForteVirtual Museum of Lusophony
In other countries it is known as:
"Pano" - Angola
"Kitenge" - Zambia
"Chitengue" - Namibia
"Canga"- Brazil.
Photography and concept: Yassmin Forte
*Yassmin Forte was born in Quelimane (Zambézia) in 1980, and lives in Maputo since 1986. She has a bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences, Public Relations and Journalism at the Instituto Superior Politécnico e Universitário (ISPU) in Maputo. She held six solo expositions, attended ten collective exhibitions and was the curator of seven expositions and contests. She also won several awards, like "Inclusion in Diversity", in Portugal, and The Mozal Award for Arts and Culture, in Mozambique.
