The Kungoni Centre of Culture & Art, located at Mua (Mua Mission) in Malawi’s Central region, was established in 1976. It is recognised as a place where the richness of Malawi’s cultural heritage is unveiled. Its goal is to guide Malawians to a deeper understanding of their country and culture. This understanding is crucial as Malawi faces the challenges of globalisation and modernisation.

To meet its goal, Kungoni offers a variety of services and activities including:

• A presentation of the fruits of 125 years of missionary encounter. The striking centenary monument gives witness to this presence. The mission church is a unique example of inculturation, where the faith and culture of the local community meet.
• The Chamare Museum, interpreting the local Chewa, Ngoni and Yao cultures.
• Cultural courses, workshops and training seminars (to both National and International audience) on Malawian Culture, history, inculturation. This is also offered to the students and newly arrived M.Afr in Malawi.
• Traditional music, dance and art performed by Kungoni Cultural Troupe.
• The art and carving centre, which supports over 100 local families and produces internationally acclaimed carvings.
• Centre of women Development (known as Kumbewu), which supports women in the community and focuses on training and empowering women.

The founder of the centre Fr Claude Boucher Chisale a Priest of the Missionaries of Africa, who passed away in August 2024 had dedicated his life to researching, recording and preserving Malawian culture. However, over many years he had built trust with the local tribes and earned their respect. This had allowed him the privilege to have access to many of their oral traditions passed through the generations. His long stay in Mua had allowed him to build a lasting relationship with the community around the south-end of the lakeshore of Lake Malawi. He had been able to tap oral information on history and local practices and document them with video and photograph. He had published a book on Gule Wamkulu (about the Chewa culture) called “When animals sing, the spirits dance.” This book elaborates the Chewa masquerades and its meanings.

Every year in the first week of August, Kungoni Centre of Culture & Art organises cultural festival in which various cultural activities including traditional dances are performed to both National and international audience. Mua Mission is about 60 km from Salima, 2-hour drive from Lilongwe, 3-hour drive from Blantyre and about 1-hour drive from Dedza pottery.