The north Mozambique culture known as the Makonde (also spelled Maconde) are world famous for the wood sculpture that bears their name. And while this age-old skill has moved away from traditional form, household objects and masks, the abstract figures carved today still carry significant meaning. The binadamu style depicts Makonde men and women in traditional roles. Ujamaa carvings known as trees of life or people poles represent unity. Shetani, spirit in Makonde, are abstract spiritual carvings. But don't limit your inquiry to woodcarvings; there is more to this fearless culture than art. The Makonde, more often associated with Tanzania than Mozambique, developed their culture on Mozambique's Mueda Plateau. They resisted African, Arab and European slavers and defied colonial powers until the 1920s. What's more, the Makonde played an integral role in the country's revolution. Not only was the revolution launched from the Mueda Plateau, in 1964 the Makonde rebelled against the Portuguese confiscation of their land, Frelamo derived part of its financial support from the sale of Makonde woodcarvings. So why are there more Makonde in Tanzania than Mozambique? Many Makonde moved to Tanzania between 1965-1990 to avoid the country's brutal civil war.

Maps are a great way to get the kids involved in family vacation planning. Teach the children to use online maps of Mozambique and plot your route to Pemba. Use political and historical maps to enhance a tween or teen's knowledge of the area and turn your adventure into an educational journey. Purchase a map of the country before you depart and mark your route as you travel.

Books are a great way to introduce younger children to a new adventure and get teens and tweens ready for a family trip. Learn more about Mozambique through guidebooks, novels and historical fiction and embark on a different kind of family journey. Discover age-appropriate children's literature. Get a complete list of Mozambican authors. Find recommended reading lists for adults and kids. Read book reviews from sources other than Amazon and get an 'African' view on Mozambican literature.

Marrabenta, with its distinctive Afro-Latin beat, is the most popular style of modern dance music in Mozambique. But it isn't the only. Discover the wild rhythms of Timbila, wooden xylophones played by the Chopi people of southern Mozambique. Learn about traditional Tofu songs sung by the women of Ilha de Moçambique. Find out about the panpipe music played in the country's far north. And, of course, listen to Mozambique music online.

Read Mozambique newspapers online and brush up on Mozambican current events from politics to economics and sports to entertainment. Get Mozambique news and discover what Mozambicans are reading and gain an understanding of the country and the people.

Online resources make learning about Mozambique lots of fun. Did you know that Maputo is the capital of Mozambique? Or that Mozambique is twice the size of the U.S. state of California? Read up on Mozambique and take the Time for Kids challenge when you're done. Get fun facts and trivia and test your knowledge before you depart on a family vacation. Learn about manatees and dugong, the large marine mammals often sighted on snorkeling and scuba diving trips. Don't forget to print an outline map of Mozambique and take it with you on your journey. Draw pictures of the things you see in each location and add the map to your scrapbook.