Educational and cultural exchange between Mocambique and Brazil: the african experience of mozambican students in São Luís de Maranhão in the south-south dialogue

Abstract

This article examines the exchange program between Mozambique and Brazil, focusing on the experience of Mozambican students in Maranhão, particularly in the context of the Federal University of Maranhão. Based on the testimonies of 14 exchange students from the Pedagogical University of Maputo and 4 from the Pungue University, who made up the Mozambican delegation in the Caminhos Amefricanos Program, the text highlights cultural and historical immersion as a tool for enrichment for participants. Divided into three parts, the article analyzes the importance of organic solidarity, as defined by Durkheim, for social cohesion in Afro-descendant communities. The first part of the article discusses the experience of exchange students in quilombola communities and their reflections on African heritage, resistance to racism, and the preservation of historical memory. The second part explores public policy proposals to combat racism and the relevance of South-South dialogue. The third part focuses on education and intercultural exchange as mechanisms to strengthen social cohesion. The analysis reveals how coexistence in quilombola communities and interaction with local cultures reinforce collective identity and the fight for racial equality. The article concludes that exchange contributes to the construction of a more just and integrated society, based on the appreciation of ancestral heritage and solidarity among countries of the South.