KuNgoni Newsletter
 

Volume 2, Issue 1 - March 2006

KuNgoni Centre of Culture & Art, Mua
Inside this Issue:

Kadzioche: ‘ go and burn yourself'

The heart beat of Prison Fellowship

Official inauguration of the Chapel of Reconciliation

  

Kadzioche : ‘ go and burn yourself'

By Fr. Claude Boucher Chisale

Mr. Kadzioche died from Aids and was buried yesterday . He le ft behind his wife and three children. His destiny is expresse d by the meaning of his name; ‘go and burn yourself' . It evokes a Gule Character which teaches people that adopt ing loose behavior will lead to death .

The presence of the pandemic in the village increases the number of tombs in the graveyard to the point that the community of the dead becomes more numerous than that of the living.

At the house of Kadzioche people are closing the mourning rituals while the crying mother is holding her last born who has just passed away. The other two children look wretched due to malnutrition and poor health. Suffering and misery highlight the scene.

In front of the house, two other Gule Wamkulu characters, Chadzunda and Maria , are reminding people that husband and wife should persist in being faithful to each other.

In the foreground, Kadzioche is performing his mime by burning himself and dying . Behind him , in the portion of the grave reserved for stor ing the mask s , the antelope structure called Kasiya Maliro, which symbolizes the mother ancestor, is being destroyed by fire at the end of the dry season. Her destruction predicts sadly the coming death of the wife of Kadzioche with her two remaining children. Her own blood line will cease.

In the bottom right hand corner,

Painted by Fr. Claude Boucher Chisale and Mr. Joseph Kadzombe Gama

a hand is activating a rattle representing the call of the ancestors. In nor m al circumstances, this instrument is guiding the Gule Characters during their performances. Through it, the voice of the ancestors is teaching the community to remain truthful to traditional teaching. Ironically, the sound of the spirits falls o n deaf ears.

The frame around the painting

repeats the symbol s of Kasiya Maliro and Kadzioche in an attempt to emphasize the urgency of rebuilding the community life by adopting responsible behavior in front of the HIV/Aids pandemic hitting Malawi today.

The mountain and the seeds germinating emphasize new life or a better future once people start taking seriously the call of their ancestors.

The heart beat of Prison Fellowship

The new Chapel of Reconciliation was officially inaugurated on the 25 th February 2006 in the newly opened Centre for Rehabilitation of ex-prisoners in Balaka often called ‘ the H alf W ay H ouse' or ‘ P rison F ellowship' . The Centre is under the supervision of the Montfort Fathers and was financed by DFID.

Three years ago, Pastor Iren e Holte, Lutheran priest and head of the Norwegian Church Aid in Malawi, felt the need to add an ecumenical chapel in support of the project. The financial contribution came through churches in Norway and totaled over 6 millions kwacha.

In her speech, she stressed the importance of providing a place of worship to ex-prisoners and staff members. All the carvings within the chapel tell us about the love of God through Jesus Christ on the path towards forgiveness and restoration. “ We accept forgiveness from God as a normal way of starting a new life, she said. Our attitude to others should also be of forgiveness. The chapel shows us the importance of not throwing stones at others. Everyone has the right to start a new life. ”

On behalf of their respective churches, all the priests and pastors pledged their support and commitment to the Chapel of Reconciliation. Many books were offered
as a sign of approval and unity. In her closing address, Pastor Iren e Holte reminded them about their responsibility to preach equality between women and men.

“When you look
at the beautiful displayed panels inside the
chapel, we are constantly challenged to adopt a new
vision and a
new heart in accepting our equality as
human being before God.”
Pastor Irene
Holte
 
Picture left: Father Claude Boucher Chisale, director of KuNgoni Centre, showing the carvings to Pastor Irene Holte.

Official inauguration of the Chapel of Reconciliation

who has a Mother (God) is lucky and feels secure. Why should I be worried? God, the Creator, is the One who keeps my life.

The second song is a commentary about the call of God's love. Ex-prisoners are to be committed to the community they are joining again, as suggested by the Chewa proverb: The drum beats when it hears the others. In a Kazukhuta style, the song continues by saying; You who have ‘seen the light', go back to your home if you have understood what really matters. Go and do it! Go and care for your parents and brothers.

When the presentation of the seven panels was done, a word was said about two sculptures; the lectern and the tabernacle . The first one portrays the healing power of God's word. In a M ganda style, the song says; To the paralytic, Jesus said: “I take away your sins. Wake up! Take your mat, you are back to life. Inspired by the Gospel of Luke 15:32, the tabernacle shows a father and a mother welcoming together their lost child. Remembering the procession song, the words flow in the same way; I will go back to my village with a new heart. I am convinced that God, my father, my mother, my village will receive me with a new heart.

Towards the end of the ceremony, a woman and a man living at Prison Fellowship shared their experience of reconciliation. Then, the leaders of different churches pledged their commitment towards the Half Way House project.

Finally, the Exit song emphasized the text of the Gospel of John already quoted saying; Let us love each other with one heart. The Lord is happy. Do not give up the change you have made; when somebody is insulting you, give a blessing instead.

 

Artists who made the panels displayed in the Chapel of Reconciliation;
Panel 1:
Martin Chingagwe, RC
Panel 2:
Daison Kumichongwe , CCAP
Panel 3:
Sumani James, Muslim, and Maxuwell Chakha, RC
Panel 4: Lyson Samikwa, CCAP
Panel 5: Jafali Anafi, Muslim
Panel 6: Simon Nkanamano, RC
Panel 7: Maxuwell Chakha, RC , Sumani James and Jume Jibu , Muslims
Lecturn and Tabernacle: Thomas Mpira, RC
Altar base: Friday J i bu, Muslim
Altar table: Smart Ngulinga
ABOVE: KuNgoni Dancers

The hot sun didn't prevent hundreds of people from attending the inauguration of the newly built Chapel of Reconciliation in Balaka. Many pastors from different churches, including a representative from the Muslim Association, attended this special prayer ceremony.

Songs from an Anglican choir and the dancers from KuNgoni Centre added to this significant event. It started with the inaugural procession song in a Ngoni style; I go back to my village with a new heart. I am convinced that God (my father, my mother my wife, my village) will receive me with a new heart.

Holy water, incense and maize flour were used to bless the Chapel before the cutting of the ribbon by the President of NCA.

One by one, the seven panels carved by KuNgoni craftsmen were explained by ministers of different churches. The KuNgoni dancing group provided a meditation song as a response to each one of them.

Panel one ; is about the prejudices of the community towards the return of a prisoner back home. In the Khunju style, the song says; Ladies! The way you talk is like one of a foreigner!

Panel two ; stresses the new responsibility facing an ex-prisoner going back home. In a Nguluti style, the song says; You made your own dust. All the skills you have acquired, let them generate

brotherhood. Wherever you go, may your new inner self redeem the land and generate brotherhood.

Panel three ; reminds us about the teaching of Christ in the Gospel of Mathew 25: 35-46. It recalls also the Chewa proverb which says: “ The one in need is God. Worship Him!” In a Mkhendo style, the song says; The one who is hungry is God. Feed Him! The naked one is God. Dress Him up! The prisoner is God. Visit Him! SEE PICTURE BELOW OF PANEL THREE:

Panel four ; is a representation of the Gospel of John 8: 1-11. In a Ngoma style, the song says; What makes the food tasty when it is not to the right standard? If one doesn't add salt, the food cannot be nice. Similarly, it is by God's grace that each one of us gives his measure.

Panel five ; is inspired by the Gospel of Luke 8: 1-11. In a Ngoma style, the song says; Zakeo was a crook who took advantage of his position over people's property. Was he not exploiting the children of God? Zakeo recognized that he was lonely like a wild animal. Was he not denying his own humanity? Then, he encountered Jesus. After his change of heart, he went to put into practice what he had learned (in Balaka).

Panel six ; is inspired by the Book of Isaiah 61: 1-2. In a Njonje style, the song says; When the reed dries, another one shoots. The spirit of God sent me to deliver the prisoners, to console those in sorrow.

Panel seven in front of the altar offers a vision of the New Jerusalem expressed through a variety of text from the prophet Isaiah. The first song explains the Chewa proverb stressing the importance of being loved and understood. God is seen as a mother. In a Ngoma style, the song says; The one

Mother God renewing creation for all her children, women and men.
From the major carving displayed behind the altar in the Chapel of Reconciliation.

Dear Irene,
Pitani bwino.

Pastor Holte came to Malawi in June 2002 to establish the head office of Norwegian Church Aid. She will be leaving on the 7 th March 2006 to go back home in Norway after a very successful mission in our country.

The painting described on the front page of our Newsletter will be put on display in the head office of Norwegian Church Aid in Oslo . Pastor Holte will bring many more souvenirs from Malawi where she made many friends from all corners.

KuNgoni Centre wishes Pastor Irene Holte a safe journey back home and good health for many years to come. We hope to see her again soon as she has already affectionately promised to visit us another day.

We are also happy to welcome her successor, Elsa Doehlie, as the new Resident Representative of Norwegian Church Aid in Malawi .
Beautifully designed and built on KuNgoni ground, our double bed African chalets can accommodate up to 20 guests. The chalets are available to either groups or individuals.
We Provide:
Courses about the cultural identify of the Chewa, the Yao and the Ngoni people.
Cultural performance of over 30 dancers.
Accommodation.
Meals; breakfast, lunch or supper.
Guided visit to Chamare Museum .
Library on African art and culture.
Cultural Research Centre.
Large variety of carvings for sale.
For more information, call:
09 511 884 or 09 294 320
Email us... admin@kungoni.org