The beautiful fresco paintings in Bembeke Cathedral
I was recently in Bembeke to attend the consecration of the new bishop of the Diocese of Dedza. Bembeke is located northeast of Dedza boma and has a number of Catholic Diocese of Dedza establishments. These include a teachers training college, a primary school and the Bembeke Cathedral of the Holy Family.
I had a few minutes to spare before heading back to Lilongwe and took that time to see the famed beautiful interior of the cathedral.
The Bembeke Cathedral of the Holy Family was built between 1915 and 1919 by White Fathers missionary Fr Jean-Louis Lesueur. The White Fathers had originally set up a sanatorium at the site in the early 1900s and later it turned into a mission station.
The inside of the cathedral is adorned with beautiful fresco paintings of traditional religious scenes with African protagonists. Local artist Michael Kapalamula tells bible stories through the painted frescoes.
One gets the sense that stories of faith, once distant and alien, now resonate within the very fabric of our culture. The frescoes aren’t just decorations; they are a bridge, connecting the Bible’s timeless message to her people’s souls.
To receive an occasional email of stories from the #LifeUnbound blog and other gems, subscribe below.
