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 – 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. The frescoes were painted by local artist Michael Kapalamula.