Kabare Carving: Apostle of Apostles

Date added: 30/01/2026

 Apostle of Apostles

The left mahogany door relief, based on John 20:11-18, at the entrance to the library of St Andrew’s College, Kabare, Kenya, carved by Benson Ndaka in 1991. Commissioning and photo: Graham Kings

Out of the depths

    she cries, three times,

    to Peter, angels and gardener:

    ‘Where have they laid him?’

No answer from the gaping tomb.

    Then a voice she knows and loves

    drags her out of harrowing depths:

    ‘Mary.’

Everything turns.

    The void is voided.

    From sowing so many tears

    She leaps with shouts of joy:

    ‘Teacher.’

Poignantly, he points above,

    ‘I’m still returning to our Father.

    We can’t come close.

    Go and tell my brothers

    you have seen the Lord.’

Mary of Magdala:

    Apostle of Apostles.

© Graham Kings

(John 20:1-18; Psalm 130; Psalm 126)

5 Dec 2025, St Beuno’s Jesuit Centre, Wales

For the series of 7 Kabare carvings, by Benson Ndaka, and 7 poems, by Graham Kings, click here.