A remarkable insight into Malawi’s history, traditions and culture
Mua Mission is the oldest mission in Malawi. It was founded in 1903 by two French White Fathers and remains one of the cultural treasures of central Malawi. Much of its contribution to preserving the country’s rich cultural heritage is linked to the work of the Canadian missionary Claude Boucher Chisale.
Father Boucher devoted his life to researching and safeguarding Malawian culture. In 1976, he established the KuNgoni Centre of Culture and Art at Mua Mission. The centre includes a woodcarving school, a library and the Chamare Museum, which documents the history, traditions and culture of the Chewa, Ngoni and Yao peoples.
The museum preserves an important record of Gule Wamkulu, a Chewa tradition recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. With ancient origins, this tradition is expressed through dances and ceremonies performed during occasions such as weddings, funerals and initiation rites.
Gule Wamkulu is safeguarded by members of the Nyau, a secret society whose participants wear costumes and masks representing a wide variety of characters, including wild animals, ancestral spirits and slave traders. Around 10,000 masks are believed to exist, and approximately 400 are preserved in the Chamare Museum alone, representing a cultural heritage of immense value.