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The museum Kumbukumbu, founded in 1931 by the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission, presents the collections purchased by Finnish missionaries mainly from Africa and Asia. As a specialized museum it exhibits other cultures and religious traditions, and illustrates the encounter between Finnish Christians and natives of other cultures.
![]() Items from the China collection. |
Kumbukumbu’s permanent exhibition presents the traditions of the Ovambo peoples of South Western Africa in Namibia and Angola, and imperial Chinese culture during the last years of the Qing dynasty in early 20th century. These were the first destinations of Finnish missionaries: work began in Ovamboland in 1870 and 1902 in China.
On display there is also an outline of the history of FELM and an introduction to the world’s largest religions.
![]() Children are tought to read in a hospital in Ovamboland. Photo from early 20th century. |
28.5.09 – 14.3.2010
The Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission counts a number of authors among its ranks. In addition to religious texts, it has also produced a wide variety of teaching materials from first readers to university course books.
The text books produced by the missionaries are a crucial and multi-faceted record of the cross-cultural encounters that have taken place over the years. They speak volumes of their authors’ own world views and backgrounds, with the books’ illustrations, aims, subject matter and the teaching methods they promote all proving particularly revealing.
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20.1. - 14.3.2010
Expressive drawings from 1960's Ovamboland, Namibia.
Leena Hukka illustrated the alphabet book Okambo Kotango by Aune Hirvonen.
| Street address | Tähtitorninkatu 18, 00140 Helsinki |
| Post address | Kumbukumbu, PL 154, 00141 Helsinki |
| Phone | +358 9 1297 343, FELM call centre +358 9 12971 |
| Fax | +358 9 1297 353 |
| kumbukumbu[a]mission.fi |
| Adults | 5 e |
| Students | 2,50 e |
| Senior citizens | 2,50 e |
| Children age 7-17 | 1 e (children under seven: free admission) |
| Guide charge | 35 e / group. Outside of normal opening hours 45 e/group. Book in advance. |
The museum is within 10 minutes' walk from the South Harbour of Helsinki. From the city centre: tram No. 10 / terminal point or tram No. 3 T/B / Neitsytpolku stop.

Closed
1.1. New Years Day
6.1. Epiphany
11.-18.1. week 2
25.-26.1.
2.-5.4. Easter
13.5. Ascension Thursday
11.-14.6. Mission fest
24.6. the day before Midsummer Eve, museum closes at 15 pm.
25. - 28.6. Midsummer
23.12. the day before Christmas Eve, museum closes at 15 pm.
24. - 27.12. Christmas
31.12. New Years Eve, museum closes at 15 pm.
Open
1.5. May Day, bazaar at the Mission House
6.12. Independence Day, bazaar at the Mission House
