ECA's mini-theatre will now be called Manuela Soeiro

Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) has named a theater at the School of Communication and Arts (ECA) after Manuela Soeiro, one of the greatest figures in Mozambican theater. The tribute recognizes five decades dedicated to the performing arts, actor training, and the promotion of community theater in a country where the artist helped establish theater as an instrument of education, reflection, and social dialogue.

At 81 years old, Manuela Soeiro sees her name associated with a space that will train new generations of artists — an initiative that aims to preserve the memory of a woman who profoundly marked the country's cultural history.

A journey spanning five decades.

Actress, playwright, director and cultural producer, Manuela Soeiro dedicated about 50 years to Mozambican theatre. Founder of the Mutumbela Gogo group, she built a career marked by the creation and staging of plays, the training of actors and the decentralization of the performing arts, taking shows to different parts of the country.

More than just recognizing an artistic career, UEM aims to transform the honoree's legacy into a source of inspiration for ECA students.

For the rector of UEM, Manuel Guilherme, naming the mini-theatre after Soeiro "is more than a tribute; it is a commitment to not letting her legacy fall into oblivion." Guilherme also speaks of "the commitment to educating young people who think, create, and question," just as Manuela Soeiro always did.

Theatre as a tool for community intervention

The choice of name is intended to bring students closer to the history of national theatre and to show them the role that the arts can play in transforming society. For the participants in the ceremony, the artist's career demonstrates that theatre is not limited to the stage, but can also be a tool for community intervention and the promotion of dialogue between different social groups.

Throughout her career, Manuela Soeiro developed community theatre initiatives, through which she helped form local groups and create conditions for them to pursue their activities autonomously. This work allowed theatre to reach beyond major urban centers and bring performances closer to communities with less access to cultural activities.

Dadivo José, actor and theatre professor at ECA, believes that Manuela Soeiro's experience represents an important reference for students, especially for her ability to use artistic expression as a means of bringing communities closer together.

"Here we already have the inspiration that our students need to realize that theater is truly a tool for establishing community dialogue," he stated.

"This tribute is for everyone"

The ceremony brought together personalities linked to the performing arts and family members of the artist, who highlighted her contribution to the training of actors and to the consolidation of theatre as part of Mozambique's cultural heritage. Among the aspects remembered were the passion with which she dedicated herself to artistic activity and the influence she exerted on different generations of professionals.

For those present, immortalizing Manuela Soeiro's name in a theater at a higher education institution also represents an opportunity to keep her legacy present in the daily lives of future artists, ensuring that her legacy transcends public recognition and continues to have an impact on the country's cultural and artistic development.

Visibly moved, Manuela Soeiro expressed her gratitude for the recognition, but made a point of sharing the credit with everyone who believed in Mozambique's ability to develop its own relevant theatre.

"I am very grateful, but I want it to be known that this tribute is for all those who believe that Mozambique has a theatre that is, in fact, developing. It is for all those who believed that Mozambique was, in fact, a country that could have a future in theatre," declared the artist.

The statement reflects the collective dimension that Manuela Soeiro attributes to the trajectory of national theatre, recognizing the role of artists, groups and all those who contributed to its evolution over the years.