About Mua Mission and Kungoni Centre
Basic Information about Mua Mission and Kungoni Centre
| Name | Mua Mission and Kungoni Centre |
|---|---|
| Location | Dedza |
| Phone | +265 (0) 998 310 248 |
| Opening Hours | 7:30-16:00 (Mon-Sat), 8:00-16:00 (Sun) |
The KuNgoni Centre of Culture and Art was established in 1976 on the grounds of the Mua Mission.
Its mission is to train local sculptors in various arts and to improve local incomes, and visitors can watch talented artists carve elaborate sculptures from a block of wood.
The artworks are sold in a shop attached to the KuNgoni Centre, as well as in shops around the country.
The Chamare Museum, located in the KuNgoni Centre, also features a very valuable exhibition focusing on the three main ethnic groups found in the Mua area (Chewa, Ngoni and Yao).
The museum consists of three gallery houses surrounding a cement replica of a baobab tree, which symbolizes the three tents that missionaries pitched under the baobab tree in 1902.
The first gallery addresses the history of Christianity, the growth of the Mua mission and cultural formation.
The second gallery focuses on the culture and spirituality of the Chewa people.
The last gallery illustrates the culture of the Ngoni and Yao people.
The two cultural galleries explore the significant rituals and life milestones important to individuals, families and communities, including childbirth, puberty, coming of age and death, which are illustrated with text panels and hundreds of photographs.
The highlight of the museum is the spectacular display of hundreds of Gule Wamkulu masks.
In addition to the sculpture and Chamare Museum, the KuNgoni Centre also has various cultural departments.
For those who want to learn more about Malawian history and culture, there is the Kafukufuku Research Centre, where you can delve into a collection of research papers, dance and ceremony videos, photographs and slides, and over 1000 books.
There are also cultural courses on Malawian history, art and language, and a program of cultural dances.
The KuNgoni Centre is located in a village called Mua in the Dedza district, about 60 km from Salima, a two-hour drive from Lilongwe and three hours from Blantyre.
