The Kungoni Centre of Culture & Art, located at Mua (Mua Mission) in Malawi’s Central region, was established in 1976. It is recognised as a place where the richness of Malawi’s cultural heritage is unveiled. Its goal is to guide Malawians to a deeper understanding of their country and culture. This understanding is crucial as Malawi faces the challenges of globalisation and modernisation.
To meet its goal, Kungoni offers a variety of services and activities, including:
- The Chamare Museum, interpreting the local Chewa, Ngoni and Yao cultures.
- Cultural courses, workshops and training seminars (to both national and international audiences) on Malawian culture, history and inculturation. This is also offered to the students and newly arrived M.Afr. in Malawi.
- Traditional music, dance and art performed by Kungoni Cultural Troupe.
- The art and carving centre, which supports over 100 local families and produces internationally acclaimed carvings.
- Centre of Women Development (known as Kumbewu), which supports women in the community and focuses on training and empowering women.
The founder of the centre, Fr Claude Boucher Chisale, a priest of the Missionaries of Africa, has recently passed away. However, over many years he had built a trust with the local tribes and earned their respect. This has allowed him the privilege to have access to many of their oral traditions passed through the generations. His long stay in Mua has allowed him to build a lasting relationship with the community around the south end of the lakeshore of Lake Malawi. He has been able to tap oral information on history and local practices and documents them with video and photograph. He has published a book on gule wamkulu (about the Chewa culture) called “When animals sing, the spirits dance.” This book elaborates the Chewa masquerades and its meanings.
Every year in the first week of August, Kungoni Centre of Culture & Art organises a cultural festival in which various cultural activities including traditional dances are performed to both national and international audiences.
From 2009 Kungoni Centre of Culture & Art embarked on a Capacity Enhancement and Outreach Project which focused its efforts on the following activities:
- DVD production of traditional songs and dances.
- Women Development Centre.
- Cultural Dancing Troupe.
The overall purpose of the project was to raise consciousness and appreciation of the richness and intricacies of Malawian culture. The project was a success in that more cultural DVD’s were produced, the Women Development Centre was improved and its activities increased, The showroom for carvings was reconstructed, the dancing arena for the Cultural Troupe was renovated to accommodate more audience, and more regalia and costumes for the Dance Troupe were purchased.
Over the years an overarching theme has been the desire to promote a dialogue between culture and faith. This has led to many inculturated liturgies and performances. Art in its various mediums has also been an important tool in forwarding this objective. Our Kungoni team believes that art can help highlight contemporary issues facing the Malawian people and encourage discussion about these topics such as witchcraft, interreligious dialogue, poverty, family concerns and just some beautiful pieces of art.
The present director of the centre is Fr Brendan O’Shea M.Afr. and the financial administrator is Br Lema Eshetu Dadi M.Afr.
E mail – kungoni@gmail.com
Website: kungoni.org
