The renowned Angolan musician and composer Matias Damásio is in Maputo for two concerts in the cities of Maputo and Matola, joined by young Mozambican artists, including singer Júlia Duarte.

"Music is one of the many cultural expressions that the BCI has long cherished. Because we believe in the importance of culture as a vehicle for bringing people closer together," said the president of the BCI's executive committee, Francisco Costa, at the press conference to launch the concerts, held on Wednesday (22) in the BCI's auditorium.

"Musical exchange between different countries, namely Angola and Mozambique, is the best way to promote, but above all to foster the emergence of new talent in Mozambique," he added.

He went on to invite the Angolan musician to show what he does best: "over the next few days, here in Mozambique, we want to see hearts explode out of our mouths, like you sing, and our voices become hoarse," he said. And he concluded: "in your song 'Como antes', you say 'I want to be happy with you, I want to be your shoulder to lean on', and today BCI wants to be that shoulder to lean on that we all need."

"It's obviously always a pleasure to return to Mozambique," said Damásio. "I often say that Mozambique is my second home, my second homeland," he said, explaining that "today we sing in every corner of the world, but Mozambique has a particularity: it has followed my career since the beginning." And he confessed: "Mozambique is part of my life". He also spoke about Mozambican musicians, in particular Júlia Duarte, of whom he has great admiration.

Duarte, for her part, was grateful: "I'm so blessed and privileged. I've had the opportunity to meet Matias Damásio several times.

It's always a great pleasure to share the stage with him, this time in Matola. We'll be there to celebrate. I'm sure it'll be one of those fires that can't be put out".