Report on fieldwork in Mozambique II
My three-months fieldwork in Mozambique served to refine my research subject which was being based on the previous fieldwork. The fact that my fieldwork was split in two separate phases provided me the opportunity to rethink fieldwork methods. Actually, the time spent in Germany in-between both fieldwork periods was essential to work on new approaches on the field.
The second period of research I have conducted in the village of Canhane, in Mozambique, was then focalized on specific topics. These had been previously identified by me as essential matters. Therefore, this second fieldwork time I have tried to explore local episodes, which were understood by me as missing parts. I am referring here to the locals’ attempt to raise a water supply system, lands conflicts, community ownership of material resources, long-standing power relations, social classes order, tourists point of view, and so on.
This time I was based more exclusively at Canhane’s village. I have tried to deepen the locals’ role on (community) tourism. For that, I have frequented more often the Covane Community Lodge, particularly whenever there were interactions between employees from Canhane and tourists. I also have intensified my focus on local’s discourses namely about their cultural characteristics.
I have spent the last two weeks in Maputo. Since my field research was mainly qualitative it was fundamental to verify documentations which include (historical) data correlated with my study. The capital of Mozambique is the place which concentrates the biggest collection of historical archives. Thus, I spent the last period of my permanence in the country doing intensive research in the Maputo’s Historical Archives office.