Authorities at the Nkhoma Synod museum have implored the citizenry to patronise the historical institution in a quest to empower themselves with knowledge.
The museum’s curator Innocent Gondwe has made the appeal as the museum hopes to boost the number of tourists visiting the institution.
The museum, based in Nkhoma on the outskirts of Lilongwe City, is home to various historical artifacts including dossiers explaining how missionaries under the Dutch Reformed Church started their missionary work in the country in 1889.
“The museum also keeps interesting artifacts including boats used by the first missionaries in Malawi,” said Gondwe.
The curator said the museum is also home to dossiers explaining how the country’s first President Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda changed names of various places in Malawi.
“And its not only that, we also have potable washing buckets used by missionaries in the early 1900s and of course a Volkswagen Combo used by missionaries in early 1900s,” said Gondwe.
The museum is also rich in historical artifacts, including early publications done in Malawi.
“Actually, we also have pictures of the first missionaries who translated the King James Bible version into Chinyanja from 1900 to 1922,” he added.
The museum also exhibits Dutch Reformed Church’s pioneering efforts in introducing formal education in Malawi.
Lilongwe-based historian Arnold Pundi has since called upon people to visit the institution and explore it.
“It is always important for individuals to visit such places to gain a deeper understanding of Malawi’s history,” said Pundi.
