| On September 13th 1902, two White Fathers Louveau and Perrot, arrived at Mua after nightfall and pitched their tents under a baobab tree, on the present day site of the Chamare Museum. ‘As darkness obscures the beauty of Nature', they wrote, ‘we prepare ourselves for a well-deserved rest as the journey has been long and arduous.'
The following day, the fathers made their way to Kachindamoto to meet with Nyatei (the Ngoni regent) in order to gain permission to establish a mission station at Mtakataka amidst the large community of twelve to fifteen thousand people. Fearing that the Europeans would steal their land, Nyatei's council advised her to refuse their request. The Fathers returned to Mua, and, renting a temporary residence, began their work with the small local population.
In their first year, the fathers made their way to Kachindamoto to meet with Nyatei (the Ngoni regent) in order to gain permission to establish a mission station at Mtakataka amidst the large community of twelve to fifteen thousand people. Fearing that the Europeans would steal their land, Nyatei's council advised her to refuse their request. The Fathers returned to Mua, and, renting a temporary residence, began their work with the small local population.
In their first year, the fathers built a small house, followed by a larger, more permanent residence with eight spacious rooms that they moved into on October 29, 1902. On May 20, 1903, building commenced on the present day brick mission house. This they sited in the middle of Chenchamba village after reaching an agreement with local residents to move their homes a hundred metres from the back of the building. The mission house was opened officially on November 15, 1903 with a huge feast for the surrounding villages. A large brick church with a Roman tiled roof was inaugurated at Christmas 1907 with a celebration attended by over seven thousand people. Construction of a Sisters' house began in August 1912, and was eventually completed by Fr. Champmartin, for whom the Chamare Museum is named.
At the end of 1913, a second floor was added to the mission to serve as a teachers' residence and the ground floor became a minor seminary.
From the beginning, the fathers established a carpentry shop and a large vegetable garden, and between 1924 and 1926, constructed a canal for irrigation. Renovation and building projects continued throughout the years. The original church was replaced in 1971 by the present structure, and its exterior was renovated in 1996 to resemble the original building. The mission house was damaged in an earthquake, and was renovated between 1989 and 1992.
The KuNgoni Centre of Culture and Art was established in November 1976, and construction of the Chamare Museum began in 1991. It opened to the public in 1999. |
|
Above: Mua Shop 1939; Fr. Champmartin & Brother Benoit
|
|
Above: The Mission House at Mua celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2002
|
|
Above: Fr Charbonnier & firends take a ride
(circa 1930)
|
|
Above: Centenary Monument representing the evolution of the mission:
a time of planting;
a time of watering;
a time of harvesting.
|
|
