A Decade of Ruby from Mozambique: A Review

Abstract

the city of Maputo as its capital. It shares borders with Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Swaziland and South Africa to the south. In the east, Mozambique is separated from Madagascar by the Mozambique Channel, which is part of the Indian Ocean. Many of these countries are known producers of gem corundum. Mozambique joined this club of ruby sources only in the last decade, a mere fraction of its long history. Around 2,000 years ago, Bantu tribes settled in what is now Mozambique. In the eleventh century, traders from the northern shores arrived and set up trading posts. These were mainly Arab, Persian, and Somali merchants who merged their own customs with those of the local Bantu, leading to the development of the Swahili culture along the eastern coast of Africa. In 1498, Vasco da Gama was the first European to arrive in Mozambique, en route to India. He encountered the Arab merchant ruler Mussa Bin Bique, whose name was given to the area. Vasco da Gama’s arrival started the Portuguese influence in the East African country, which lasted until Mozambique gained independence in 1975. This independence sparked a civil war that tore the country apart until the mid-1990s, when its first elections with multiple parties were held. Since these elections, the country has been relatively stable, although insurgent groups are still active. The country’s population of more than 29 million is largely Christian, with a significant number who follow Islam or traditional animistic beliefs. Portuguese remains the official language, though many