DR. Congo. Kuba, The Fabric of Illumination
Kuba, a fabric produced in the Democratic Republic of Congo for hundreds of years, survives today thanks to the talent and skill of local artisans who keep the tradition alive. Its origins can be traced back to the 17th century, when it began to be made in the then-Kuba kingdom. The highly elaborate and complex […]
Oral Literature. The Elephant and the Rabbit
One day, the Rabbit and the Elephant wanted to trade their cloth for a cow. The Rabbit had a little bundle of cloth. And the Elephant had a big bundle of cloth. They started for the village. On the way, they came to a river. The elephant went right into the water. “Wait,” cried the […]
People & Culture. Uganda: Acholi. The Rite of The Birth of a Child
Acholi is a Luo Nilotic ethnic group from Northern Uganda, with a population of approximately 1.2 million in the country. Among the Acholi people, the birth of a child is regarded as a miraculous work of the supreme God, Nyarubanga. The spirits of the dead ancestors known in Acholi as Abila, also play an important […]
Malawi. “What’s it all for?”
For twenty-one years, Sister Rose Guevara has been a missionary in Malawi, a country where she feels “at home.” She tells us about her vocational journey. I am a Carmelite Missionary Sister originally from the Philippines. At home, I was the youngest of three siblings. My training as an engineer led me to work for […]
Adire, the popular indigo-dyed Yoruba fabric
Today, we take you to Nigeria to discover a cotton cloth dyed using a technique common among the Yoruba people: adire. Fabrics made using the original dyeing methods still survive in the country’s markets today, despite the textile industry being undermined by cheaper dyes imported from China. Adire fabric is made by Nigerian women using […]
Oral Literature. Why does a dog wag its tail?
One day, God appeared among the jungle animals, carrying a clay jar. He walked cautiously to a cave, placed the container on top of a rock, and looked around. Then, addressing the animals who had followed him happily and inquisitively, he said: “There is a great treasure hidden in this jar. I entrust you with […]
Libya. Fezzan. A window of the soul
Amid golden dunes, rock carvings, and salt lakes, journey into the heart of the Libyan Sahara: a “window to the soul.” The heart of Libya’s desert, the Fezzan, preserves breathtaking landscapes and ancient traces of lost civilisations. A fascinating voyage through golden dunes, rock carvings, and salt lakes. Dunes of fine yellow sand and black […]
Frontier Church/Kyrgyzstan. A geography of hearts, minds, and souls to be rediscovered.
Leading a small Christian community in Kyrgyzstan, Mons. Anthony Corcoran, apostolic administrator of the Central Asian country, says: “I discovered their extraordinary testimony, the strength of their faith, and their integrity in guarding it, which makes it the key to their lives.” A few hundred Catholics in a country of over 7 million people. This […]
DR Congo. “I’m going to break the stone.”
“After spending over two decades in Italy, despite my 78 years of age and the loss of my vocal cords due to cancer in 2000, I couldn’t resist the inner urge to return to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).” Father Fernando Zolli tells us his story. In the 1990s and early 2000s, I lived […]
Uganda, discovering traditional barkcloth.
Our journey into the world of traditional African textiles continues. Today, we take you to Uganda to discover one of the continent’s oldest textiles: barkcloth, which has been a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2008. Made from the bark of the Mutuba tree, a plant common in Uganda and southern Africa, the cloth is […]