Makonde nativity scenes

The Gospel according to Saint Luke tells that "Mary laid the baby in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn".

This "crib" gave the German name for the whole nativity scene in the stable at Bethlehem. The tradition of a figurative representation of the events according to the Gospel of Saint Luke with the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, shepherds and the Christmas angel is not very old. Nativity scenes prevailed first in catholic churches at the time of the Counter-Reformation in the 16th century. In this context, especially the Jesuit order was keen to deepen the belief of the incarnation of the Son of God by concrete illustration among the faithful.

The Jesuits subsequently integrated the scene of the worship of the "wise men from the east" according to the Gospel of Saint Matthew in the Bethlehem scenery. Even animals were added to the happenings; sheep together with the worshipping shepherds; ox and donkey in accordance to the descriptions of an apocryphal gospel, which is not part of the official New Testament; elephants and even camels as ride mounts of the "three Holy Kings".

It was not until the 19th century that the tradition of setting up a Christmas crib in homes became common use. This promoted arts and crafts in Bavaria and other alpine countries; nativity figures made of wood or wax, sometimes elaborately clothed, have been very popular in families to the present day.

The Makonde tribe, an ethnic group living in Tanzania‘s southeast and in the northern part of Mozambique on the so-called Makonde Plateau, have quite a long tradition of woodcarving.

From the middle of the last century on, this art became internationally known by Makonde woodworkers living at Dar es Salaam. Even before, missionaries from St. Ottilien encouraged the artists to create Christian themes, especially nativity scenes. On the premises of Ndanda abbey, situated in the southeast of Tanzania at the foot of the Makonde plateau, a group of artists produces works of art, which Ndanda abbey buys for a fair price. A major part of them is shipped to Europe and offered for sale in the monastery shops of the Missionary Benedictine’s abbeys.

The Makonde artisans know expertly how to treat the black, hard and heavy ebony. Sometimes part of the soft, light-colored sapwood is used to create attractive contrasts.

Another big nativity scene is located in the "Africa hall" on the Mission Museum’s ground floor. The Makonde wall in the basement shows many woodcarvings, among them many Christian themes.