Mua Mission - history and peace of mind

There has been a long summer vacation silence from my end, but now I am back in Malawi and receiving new impressions and making new experiences.  During this last weekend Birgit and I (Birgit is here during the remainder of her summer vacation) visited Mua Mission, close to Lake Malawi.  Mua means "sugarcane" in the local language, and is a reminder of its slave trade history.  Mua was a slave market, and slaves were fed locally produced sugar canes.  Based on this history the Catholic congregation White Fathers arrived in 1902 and started building a mission station.  They saw their mission as liberation from oppressive traditions and poverty.  Mua Mission did, however not leave the local traditions behind.  In the 1970s Father Claude Bouchet started what should be Kungoni Centre of Culture & Art.  In appreciation of the value of local culture as part of living out Christianity he has over the years made impressive studies of the local history and traditions.  This has resulted in a unique museum and a centre for enculturation and training of traditional tree carving.

       
                                         Robert takes us through the local history of Mua Mission

On the premises of the Mission a small lodge with five chalets, a dining hall and conference room was built 10 years ago.  At the entrance of the dining hall a signboard and a photo document Norwegian support for the project, and Crown Princess Mette Marit opening the lodge in June 2005.

Everything at Mua Mission, including the lodge is "stamped" by the philosophical and artistic ideas of Fr. Bouchet,  Even the toilet paper-holders in the chalets express local culture - and may come across as scary in the twilight of evening or early morning.

Masks are important historically and even in today's celebration of phases of life.  Outside each chalet there is a distinct mask, and the one outside our room did not invite for slumbering in.  Somehow it reminded us more of "Scream" than slumber.

 
Mua Mission is, in spite of the distinct cultural expression a place to recover peace of mind.  The small river below the chalets gives a backdrop to the songs of birds and buzzing of insects that penetrate the otherwise dark, warm silence.  Only occasional voices from the neighbouring village remind us that we are part of a living society, not only engulfed in history and nature.