The Guambes and chope music as a guarantor of the group's cohesion and integrity

Alberto Mudjadjo"

The Guambe are the result of the association of groups of various origins, and their continuity and change can be observed over time, as can the change of the name "Ndonge" to "txopi." The Vatxopi (plural) are a conglomerate of tribes or segments of tribes, emigrating from various points. As for the Vatxopi's ethnic composition, the literature of the time provides little information, as the tribes of southern Mozambique were irretrievably fragmented and uprooted from their traditional habitat, subjugated, and forced into foreign acceptance. The Guambe described by missionaries in 1560 came directly from the Caranga country. The ancestors of the present-day Guambe departed from the land of the Vendas (South Africa) and spread along the banks of the Limpopo River, forming the Mindongue, with very different customs. From them, the chiefs Guambe Grande and Guambe Pequeno, both from the Inharrime district, are said to have originated. The Guambe live along the coast, and their history is tied to political power, serving the chieftains, colonial authorities, and the kingdom of Monomotapa. Their structure was formed by elements of multiple ethnic origins, but originally, the Chona-Carangas predominated. Thus, the spread of Mbila in the Txopi area is due to the fall of the Great Zimbabwe or Monomonotapa empire, as the Chona-Carangas moved south of the Save River. The timbila (xylophones) of the Vatxopi are almost identical to the pianos of the Carangas. Txopi music is one of the most complex, interesting, and referenced musical forms in Africa, with centuries of formal refinement, style, and instrumentation. The characteristic African concepts of personal expression within written forms, individual freedom within the unity of the group, and the integration of personal and societal dimensions through antagonistic rhythms are evident in this dance. Cumbe (2000) reiterates that the Txopi ethnic group emerged, recognized by their mindongue and the use of bow and arrow, residing in Khokholos (settlements defined by stakes or palisades), which constituted a means of defense against external threats, and also recognized by the music of the timbilas. Politically, this group was not cohesive; it was divided and disintegrating due to internal struggles involving the Portuguese and the State of Gaza. The Guambe kingdom was quite large and densely populated, culturally defined by a history of syncretism, migrations, and fusions. They have autonomous chiefs and an Omaha-type kinship system, and are culturally distinguished by the manufacture of the timbila. With the reconstitution of the social fabric, the State of Gaza emerged, coordinated by a centralized monarchy, which regimented and subjugated several chiefdoms and kingdoms, including the Guambes. Many of these chiefs who participated in the conflicts believed in the spirits of their ancestors and remained in memory through music, where their presence enriches and shapes social relations, contributing to well-being and defending their integrity. This theme is crucial, as it arose from the recognition of the value that Txopi music has been acquiring. UNESCO's recognition of timbila as a World Heritage Site in 2005 and the annual Msaho (timbila festival) since 1995 contribute to the appreciation of Txopi music worldwide. The Vatxopi are one of the minority ethnic groups in southern Mozambique, yet they have remained undaunted by the vicissitudes of the region's history, having resisted the Nguni invasion, colonial domination, and the Mozambican civil war. In all these moments, we find music as a strong reference point for the group's identity. And the music itself constitutes a repertoire of collective memory, portraying in its verses the tenor of social struggles. From time to time, when the group's integrity is threatened, it is used as an instrument of combat or cohesion in various manifestations. The timbila dance suggests warlike displays and allows us to understand that it somehow has a warlike function. Txopi music ensures group cohesion and integrity by enabling verbal and gestural interaction, through song and dance, which only group members are capable of decoding and through which they denounce threats and call for resistance. For this reason, it can be understood that music acts as a kind of unifying agent among people, establishing a connection between them. This connection is especially evident in events where the dance is performed. During its performance and in the gatherings where the music was performed, a bond was formed between individuals who admired the music, forming a group of people who shared a common musical language, as well as common ideas about music and its uses. Music and its poems played an interesting role in regulating and conditioning individual behavior in accordance with their respective cultural values, roles in which they were only equaled by aphorisms. They reflected social conditions, criticized injustices, those who failed to fulfill their duties, those who abused their power, and ridiculed vanity. Txopi music, in addition to conveying a feeling of revolt, promotes improved physical health in the performers, as it demands effort. In addition to other tasks, the actors occupy themselves in the orchestra, avoiding involvement in illicit activities. Through music and group singing, a process of nonverbal interaction (communication) is established between participants. Thus, during collective singing, participants share certain ideas and feelings present in the songs, which instills a sense of belonging to a group. This group can be seen as a gathering of people who communicate primarily through the music performed at these gatherings. It encompasses the set of cultural, social, and political manifestations related to music and all those who participate in it. Therefore, music, in a more or less rudimentary form, plays a significant role in the life of the Txopi tribe, where all activities are accompanied by the timbila dance. The Txopi do not typically write memoirs, novels, or books, but rather, they preserve their intimate memories through oral sources, and their music is the primary vehicle for transmitting knowledge and values.

2025/12/3