Ricardo Rangel facts for kids

Ricardo Achiles Rangel (born 15 February 1924 – died 11 June 2009) was a very important Mozambican photojournalist and photographer. He used his camera to show the world what life was like in Mozambique, especially during the time it was ruled by Portugal.

About Ricardo Rangel

His Early Life

Ricardo Rangel was born in February 1924 in a city called Lourenco Marques. This city is now known as Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. At that time, Mozambique was called Portuguese East Africa because it was controlled by Portugal.

Ricardo had a mixed background, with family from Africa, Europe, and China. His father was a Greek businessman. Ricardo was mostly raised by his African grandmother in the poorer areas around Lourenco Marques.

His Photography Career

Ricardo Rangel started his journey into photography in the early 1940s. He began by developing pictures in a private studio. Soon, he became interested in taking his own photos.

In 1952, Ricardo made history by becoming the first non-white person hired as a photographer at the Mozambican newspaper Noticias de Tarde. He later moved to its sister newspaper, Notícias, in 1956.

From 1960 to 1964, he was the main photographer at the daily newspaper A Tribuna. He then moved to the city of Beira in the mid-1960s. There, he worked for several newspapers, including Diário de Moçambique, Voz Africana, and Notícias da Beira. In the late 1960s, he returned to Lourenco Marques and worked for Notícias again.

Fighting for Change with his Camera

In 1970, Ricardo Rangel and four other journalists started a weekly magazine called Tempo. This magazine was very special because it was the only publication that openly spoke out against Portuguese rule. It was also Mozambique's first full-color magazine.

Ricardo was Tempo's main photojournalist. He often took pictures that showed how poor people were living or how unfair the Portuguese government's rules seemed to be. Many of his photos from this time were banned or destroyed by the Portuguese government's censors. This meant they couldn't be published or shown until Mozambique became independent in 1975. Because of his work, Ricardo was often watched by the Portuguese secret police, known as the PIDE.

After Independence

When Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975, Ricardo Rangel played a big part in teaching new Mozambican photographers. In 1977, he became the chief photographer for Noticias. This happened after many other photojournalists had left the country.

In 1981, Ricardo became the first director of the Mozambican publication Domingo. He then went on to start the Photographic Training Centre in Maputo in 1983. This was a school for photography, and he remained its director until he passed away in 2009. From 1983 onwards, Ricardo also started showing his amazing work in art galleries and museums in Europe and Africa.

Ricardo also founded the Mozambican Photography Association. He was the first leader of this group and was later given the special title of "Life President" by its members.

In 2008, Ricardo Rangel received an honorary doctorate in social science from Eduardo Mondlane University. This was a special award for his "contribution to Mozambican culture." This university is the oldest and largest in Mozambique.

He also served on the Maputo Municipal Assembly from 1998 to 2003. He was part of a group called Juntos Pela Cidade, which means "Together for the City."

His Passing

Ricardo Rangel passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Maputo, Mozambique, on June 11, 2009. He was 85 years old. His wife, Beatrice, who was from Switzerland, survived him.

Ricardo's funeral was held at Maputo City Hall on June 15, 2009. Many important people attended, including the Prime Minister of Mozambique, Luisa Diogo. Jazz music was played at the funeral, just as Ricardo had wished, because he loved jazz. He was buried in the Lhanguene cemetery in Maputo.

At his funeral, Prime Minister Luisa Diogo praised Ricardo's life and work. She said that he left "an indelible mark on the history of Mozambique." She also highlighted how his work during the colonial era helped "to expose colonial dictatorship." She reminded everyone that many of his photographs had been banned until Mozambique became independent.

Joao Costa, the head of the Mozambican Photographic Association, said about Ricardo, "the man has died, but his work remains."

Movie About Ricardo Rangel

A movie called “Ricardo Rangel – Hot Iron” was made about his life. The director was Licinio de Azevedo. This film was shown at the CPLP Film Festival in Luanda, Angola, starting on September 16, 2009.

The film, which is 52 minutes long, is a documentary about Ricardo Rangel's 80 years of life, with 60 of those years dedicated to photography. It was filmed and finished just a few months before he passed away.

Movie Story

The movie tells the story of Ricardo Rangel, a photographer who, at 80 years old, was a symbol of a generation that started speaking out against the colonial situation in the late 1940s. While taking pictures of the city where the settlers lived, Ricardo showed the harsh and unfair side of colonialism. From that time until the end of the civil war after independence, Ricardo photographed 60 years of Mozambique's history. In this movie, Ricardo guides us through his life and work. The city of Maputo, the bohemian lifestyle, and jazz music all have a special place in his story.