Soundtrack of youth in protest

"I don't think this is a political issue. It's a social issue."

Popular Mozambique rapper Nikotina KF is rattled and stressed after facing police teargas and rubber bullets just hours earlier but is determined to bring his voice to the youth-led protests running through his country.

On the streets and in music videos that get thousands of views on YouTube, the 32-year-old musician is throwing himself into the waves of demonstrations that have gripped Mozambique since disputed 9 October elections.

"I don't think this is a political issue. It's a social issue," Nikotina told AFP on a busy street in Maputo's rundown Mafalala neighbourhood, his face tired and drawn after that morning's protest dispersed by police.

Rights groups say security forces killed dozens of people in youth-led protests called by opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who rejects results showing he lost the presidential election to the Frelimo party that has governed for nearly 50 years.

"People already had the gunpowder; Venancio lit the fuse," said Nikotina, whose real name is Higino Fumo.

"People realise that one group of people has a lot and another has very little. This creates social divides."

The southern African nation has ample resources - including newly discovered natural offshore gas - but more than 70% of its people live in poverty, according to the African Development Bank.