Monuments and Historical Sites

Chongoni Rock Art and Painting

The Chongoni Rock Art and Painting in Dedza is home to cave drawings of the primitive man at Chentcherere Hills in the Chongoni Mountain Forest. There are 127 rock painting sites in the area.  These rock paintings can be divided into two main types: the first, painted in red, depict unique geometric figures and patterns, as well as mythological animals and humans. These paintings date from the Late Stone Age and are thought to have been made by the Bathwa (Akafula) hunter-gatherers who lived in the area before the Chewa people migrated. The second type are painted in white and were done by the Chewa who migrated to the area and depict animals, spirits, gods, reptiles and legendary creatures. The white paintings are relatively recent, given that some of them actually depict vehicles. Some of the symbols are strongly associated with women and still have cultural relevance amongst the Chewa, and the sites are associated with ceremonies and rituals. Despite stylistic differences, these two types of paintings are very valuable since they demonstrate that the Chewa coexisted with the Akafula until the mid-19th century. Chongoni was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006 for the rich rock art cultural tradition depicting a scarce tradition of farmers and hunter gatherers in the Late Stone Age. 

Chongoni rock paintings in Dedza

St Micheals and all Angels church

St. Michaels and All Angels Church was constructed from 1888 to 1891 and is located on the original Scottish mission site in Blantyre City. It is one of the historical landmarks and national monuments in Malawi. The church was designed, and its construction managed, by Rev. David Clement Scott, who had no formal architectural training. It was built by  the local workers who had no previous experience in constructing this type of building. Therefore, there was no plan or sketch, and the bricks were laid and tested before being steadily assembled. The construction was done using locally made clay bricks made on site and fired in wood-fueled kilns. The completely different design of the left and right towers is also a unique feature of this church building.

St Michaels and all Angels in Blantyre

The Culture and Museum Center Karonga

The Cultural and Museum Centre Karonga (CMCK), commonly called Karonga Museum is located in Karonga district in northern Malawi. The central exhibition entitled ‘Malawi from Dinosaurs to Democracy’ focuses on 240 million years of Karonga via milestones such as prehistoric landscapes, animals and early humans and their way of life; archaeological records; history of slave trade and the colonial era; Malawi under Dr. Banda; and culture and traditions of Karonga people. The main exhibit is a life-size replica skeleton of the Malawisaurus (Malawi Lizard), whose virtually intact 120-million-year-old fossil skeleton was discovered in 1924 in Karonga District. There is also a superb sequence of displays on human evolution, including a replica of the 2.5-million-year-old Hominid’s jawbone discovered near Chilumba in 1991. It is the world’s oldest-known relic of the genus Homo (the same genus as modern humans). Apart from being the home of the oldest fossils ever to be found in Malawi, the facility acts as a Center for Field Research and it co-operates in international projects. With its unique concept, the Karonga Museum is a key factor for promoting appreciation of Malawi's Cultural & Natural heritage by educational development and research.

Malawisaurus (Malawi lizard) on display at the Cultural Museum Centre Karonga

St Peters Cathedral Likoma

The St. Peters Cathedral, on Likoma Island, was established by the Universities' Mission to Central Africa (UMCA). This was a missionary society established by members of the  Anglican Church within the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, and Dublin. Construction of this Cathedral was completed in 1911. Construction materials of this Cathedral came from different countries including Israel. It is the third largest cathedral in Central Africa.

St. Peters Cathedral at Likoma

Malawi Art

Kungoni Art Centre

Arts and crafts are an essential part of Malawi culture.  Artists in cultural artifacts are spread all over the country.  However, the Kungoni Centre of Culture and Art at Mua in Dedza District has stood out for its uniqueness. The Centre was established by a the White Father’s Catholic Missionary Father Claude Boucher Chisale with the intention of giving the local carvers training in a variety of artistic forms and to improve local incomes.  Besides the carvings, the Kungoni Centre has also developed a culture sector which includes the Chamare Museum, a research center, local traditional dancing troupe and cultural courses. The center employs over 120 carvers and is just setting up a new project called Kumbewu (The Seed). Kumbewu will offer skill training for women and serve as a site for various information sessions including HIV/Aids education, agricultural diversification, money management and more.

Inside Kungoni