Janet Mondlane
Encyclopedia
Janet Mondlane and her husband, Eduardo Chivambo Mondlane were the founders of Frelimo and helped organize the liberation of Mozambique
from the Portuguese
colonialists.
Janet was born in 1935 in Illinois
, and was raised in a middle-upper class American family. In 1951 at the age of 17, she attended a church camp in Geneva, Wisconsin
where she met Eduardo Mondlane, who was giving a speech about the future of Africa
. In 1956, five years later, they married after she received her B.A. and he his M.A. At the time of their marriage, Janet was 22 and Eduardo was 36.
In 1963 Janet and Eduardo returned to Eduardo's home, Mozambique, in order to organize the liberation factions fighting the Portuguese. Together they helped form Frelimo, and Janet was the director of the Mozambique Institute, the nonmilitary branch of Frelimo.
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
from the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
colonialists.
Janet was born in 1935 in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and was raised in a middle-upper class American family. In 1951 at the age of 17, she attended a church camp in Geneva, Wisconsin
Geneva, Wisconsin
Geneva is a town in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,099 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 30.8 square miles , of which, 29.3 square miles of it is land and 1.5 square miles of it ...
where she met Eduardo Mondlane, who was giving a speech about the future of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. In 1956, five years later, they married after she received her B.A. and he his M.A. At the time of their marriage, Janet was 22 and Eduardo was 36.
In 1963 Janet and Eduardo returned to Eduardo's home, Mozambique, in order to organize the liberation factions fighting the Portuguese. Together they helped form Frelimo, and Janet was the director of the Mozambique Institute, the nonmilitary branch of Frelimo.