First Capital Bank has recognised three Mozambican artists with prizes totalling 225,000 meticais under its ‘Expressão Moçambicana’ contest, held in Maputo. Phambi, Samuel Djive and Thandi Pinto took the top three places in an initiative that brought together works by ten national artists.
According to a statement from the bank, the awards ceremony took place on 15 October at the Maputo Port Gallery, where an exhibition of the selected works has been on display since 8 October.
The first prize, worth 100,000 meticais, was awarded to Phambi — the artistic name of Isac Abílio Tivane — for the work O Impulso Colectivo. A graduate in Architecture and Physical Planning from Eduardo Mondlane University, the artist produces work that intersects activism, urban identity and cultural roots.
Samuel Djive took second place with Lugares e Memórias, receiving 75,000 meticais. The visual artist, painter and designer combines elements of design with expressionist painting. In 2011, he founded the Street Gallery project in Maputo.
The third prize of 50,000 meticais went to Thandi Pinto for O Sagrado Feminino. The multidisciplinary artist works across photography, video, digital art and collage, exploring different forms of visual narrative.
In addition to the monetary prize, First Capital Bank announced it will acquire the winning work, which will be displayed at the institution’s future headquarters.
“Supporting art and culture is a way of recognising Mozambique’s cultural richness and contributing to the promotion of its artists. The acquisition of the winning work, which will be exhibited at the institution’s future headquarters, reflects our commitment to sustaining this recognition and keeping Mozambican art present in the Bank’s daily life,” said Ana Russo, Director of Marketing and Communication.
The contest’s curator, Maria Elisa Chim, highlighted the importance of initiatives that promote national talent and bring the public closer to contemporary Mozambican art.
Alongside the prize-winning works, the exhibition features pieces by Albino Manhuana, Chaná de Sá, Kadinho, Lizzie Ana Uamusse, Maria Chale, Mógas and Nelsa Guambe, spanning a range of artistic disciplines from painting to photography and digital art.
The exhibition remains open at the Maputo Port Gallery until 1 November 2026.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=553692
