Today we are leaving our two week home with Ripple Africa, but we are not leaving Malawi.   I, Zeb the Duck, and the humans enjoyed our time on the shore of Lake Malawi with Ripple Africa.   We all learned so much and met such warm, friendly people.    I said goodbye to my friend, Dan.

Dan from Ripple Africa

Dan is the Volunteer Projects Manager.   As we leave, the children follow our vehicles, waving and smiling.

Children from Ripple Africa

We will be back in the capital, Lilongwe, tonight, but we will visit Mua Mission on the way.   Sights along the road include this truck driving in front of us and a biker also on the road.

Riding through Malawi

The passengers seem happy and friendly.   It is July, the winter in Malawi, so it is not too hot for gardens.   We see produce stands like this one, with such beautiful tomatoes.

Fresh tomatoes available today

Mua Mission is one of the oldest Catholic outposts in Malawi.  The Mission was established by the “White Fathers” at the base of the Rift Valley Escarpment in 1902.   Our first stop is the Chamare Museum which opened in 1999.   This museum is said to be the finest ethnographic museum in Malawi.   Let’s go through the gate and visit the museum.

Let’s go through this pretty gate

Isn’t this a great mask outside?

Mask at museum entrance

I, Zeb the Duck, love it.   We will pay our entrance fee and meet our guide.

Chamare Museum

The first room has an overview of Malawi history and we are allowed to take photographs.    Photographs are not allowed in the other rooms of the museum.   I examined these items and wandered around the room as the guide explained what we were seeing.

Artifacts inside museum

You really would enjoy visiting the Chamare Museum.   Remember that this is a Catholic Mission, so this panel with the Resurrection is very important.

The Resurrection

The other rooms contained items and information about the three major cultural groups of the region, Chewa, Ngoni and Yao.   The last room was perhaps the most impressive.   It contains the world’s largest collection of Gule Wamkulu masks, around 400 total masks.   Photos are prohibited to preserve the masks and other items, but it is sad that I could not share some of these with you.   When you are in Malawi, this museum in Mua Mission, is worth a visit.   The outside of the museum is decorated with several colorful murals, such as this one.

Colorfull murals on outside of Chamare Museum

The Art Gallery is near the museum.

Art Gallery

We visited the show room, and made several purchases.   I loved the wood carvings.    I also like the fresh look of the church.

Church

Choir practice was being held outdoors.

outdoor choir practice

The mild weather is wonderful for outdoor activities.   We walked behind the museum to see this amphitheater.

Amphitheater

This would be a wonderful place to enjoy a performance.   Our short visit to Mua Mission was pleasant.   If you have more time, you could spend a couple days here, enjoying the mission and the surrounding area.   Next time we will show you more of Malawi.