Rural-urban dialectics and territorial-heritage in Africa. Chiuaula Market, city of Lichinga, Mozambique

Abstract

The article analyzes the conditions of permanence of the territorial-heritage of Chiuaula market in Lichinga, Mozambique, as a synthesis of the rural-urban dialectic in the process of African urbanization. The Chiuaula market is understood as a territorial-heritage, a site of resistance against African urban-rural impoverishment and an expression of popular everyday life. The methodology is based on: i) bibliographic research on urbanization and the rural-urban dialectic in Africa; (ii) a review of the theory related to territorial-heritage from a decolonial perspective; iii) fieldwork to conduct semi-structured interviews and collect information on the commercial dynamics of the market (involving knowledge, products and vendors). It was found that the products sold at the Chiuaula market singularize the rural-urban interaction in terms of African urbanization; the establishment constitutes a relevant territorial-heritage, from the perspective of the vendors, who see the place as a source of mitigating material impoverishment and survival for around 864 families, in addition to strengthening social ties.