Walking outside the Hotel "O Escondinho", located on a small square, one could oftentimes find Henrique Ali selling all sorts of African-made objects, mostly made of different types of wood. This friendly young salesman strategy is to choose a place where visitors on the Island of Mozambique often pass by. The daily goal is to sell souvenirs to tourists. Born and raised on the Island (Ilha), his organized stands sell bracelets, key chains, masks, pens, necklaces, statues and the list goes on.

Henrique Ali

Salesman, 24 years old
Excerpted · August 2017

Interviewer: What is your connection with the Island of Mozambique?
Henrique Ali: It’s a nice place. Tourists, when they come, they stay very relaxed. It’s a place with no fights, very relaxed environment.

Do you know what is UNESCO and its role regarding the Island of Mozambique? The WHS classification…?
H. A.: No. I know the Island is World Heritage.

Do you think the Island of Mozambique has changed over time?
H. A.: The buildings have changed and so as the lives of the people with the culture.

What do you think about the coming of foreigners to the Island? The WHS classification helped boost tourism or the coming of foreign investigators and investors..?
H. A.:Tourist don’t come that often. It works in waves. Their either come a lot or do not come at all.

Do you feel connected to some monument on the Island of Mozambique?
H.A.: To Vasco da Gama [the statue].

What do you consider to be your heritage?
H.A.: For me, heritage is the monuments where’s Vasco da Gama, the fortress, the museum, and also Luís de Camões. Monuments mostly.

Overall, do people care about the conservation of the Island as a historical place?
H.A.: Yes, they do.  

Did you visited any museum? If so, what is your opinion about them?
H.A.: I think they are nice, the things that are there.

What do you think about the fortress? (São Sebastião Fortress)
H.A.: I think they should leave the things they have found there in their original place, instead of taking them some other place.