The Universities Mission to Central Africa (U.M.C.A) was established in 1857 with the purpose of bringing Christianity, health, education and equal trade to central Africa. It was initiated by Dr Livingstone at Cambridge. Dickinson and Scudamore were the first U.M.C.A missionaries in Nyasaland but sadly they did not live to see the fruits of their labour as they both died at Chikwawa in 1862-63. LOCATION TBC
Richard Thornton was born on the 5 April 1838 in Yorkshire, England. He attended grammar school in Bradford before entering the Royal School of Mines, London, in October 1855. After 2 years he passed his examination with great distinction and won a Government prize and the De la Beche Medal for excellence in geological studies. He joined Dr. Livingstone's expedition in 1862. Nine months later, on the 21 April 1863, Thornton died on board the boat 'Pioneer' in the upper reaches of the Shire River. He was 25 years old.
This Church was designed by Rev. David Clement Scott, a Church of Scotland missionary who had no formal training in architecture or construction. Its brick composition has remained structurally sound for over a century. Historically, the mission station of which it forms the centre marked the beginning of Blantyre city. The "Mission station" included Church, Offices, School, Botanical gardens and Industrial workshops much of which is still extant today. It is the first site of secondary and technical education in the country. It is important in the history of spreading Christianity in Southern Malawi and in the memory of early missionaries especially Dr. David Livingstone who apart from bringing Christianity, also brought civilisation and legitimate trade to this part of Africa.
Historic original mission site established by Livingstone and others. Built on earlier settlements which have been thoroughly researched (see book by Landeg White "Magomero")
The five missionaries who pioneered Christianity in Malawi. They came to bring in good governance through the introduction of Christianity, Commerce and Civilization. The five died of Malaria in a space of three years from 1877- 1880. Dr William Black (1877), Shadrack Ngunana (an African missionary from South Africa who came to help with education) died of malaria and was buried alongside Dr Black, George Benzies, John Mackay and John Gunn.
These sites were ancestral burial sites. The graves were opened before arrival of Dr. David Livingstone (Exact date not known) They ceased to be used as a burial site in 1893 after arrival of the British. It is recorded that the British influenced end of tribal conflicts in area and thus caused the original inhabitants of Nkudzi bay to move to another area hence closure of the burial site. The graves were used by Nyanja people and bodies were buried following the tribe's customs: the man will be buried on his back with arms on his sides and beads, tools and weapons will all be placed in his grave for use in the after life; while a woman would be buried with her ornaments and pots, some pots were found with chicken bones indicating possibility of inclusion of livestock in the pots. The sites are no longer traceable. LOCATION TBC
At this tree Dr. Livingstone negotiated with Jumbe regarding freedom for slaves. One of major Slave Trade Routes was Nkhotakota where a Swahili-Arab slave trader, Salim-bin Abdullah (Jumbe) set up his headquarters on the shore of Lake Malawi in the 1840s. From Nkhotakota he organized his expeditions to obtain slaves and ship them across the lake to East African markets, Kilwa. About 20, 000 slaves (Pachai, P.A. 1968) were annually shipped by Jumbe to Kilwa from Nkhotakota. The captives were kept until they number 1000 and taken across the lake and then forced to walk for three to four month journey to Kilwa where they were sold.
1861 Dr Livingstone met Jumbe under the tree and again in 1864 Livingstone met Jumbe and Chewa chiefs here again to negotiate a treaty to end hostility and cease slave trading.
The second site of missionary work of the Free Church of Scotland's Livingstonia Mission led by Dr Robert Laws after the initial failure to establish a mission at Cape Maclear in memory of Dr. David Livingstone. Located on the northern lakeshore south of Nkhata Bay, after they moved north from Cape Maclear in 1881. Problems with fever meant this was a short stay before the final move up to Kondowe (Livingstonia) on the escarpment. Alongside Christianity the mission promoted education, medical and industrial services.
Livingstonia extension. Established in 1880s by Donald Fraser. Founded by Dr Donald Fraser in 1884 as an outstation of Bandawe mission. It relates to the spread of Christianity, provisional of medical care, education and stoppage of hostilities between the Ngoni and Tongas.
African Lakes Company which was funded by the British Government, came to Malawi in response to Dr. David Livingstone's call for the introduction of Commerce in Central Africa as a substitute to slave trade. The company established a permanent trading station at the site under a capable agent, L. Monteith Fotheringham, where they fought and defeated a notorious slave trader, Mlozi in the Arab Wars.