Kabare Carving: Feeding the Five Thousand

Date added: 30/01/2026

The left mahogany door relief, based on Mark 6:30-44, at the entrance to the chapel of St Andrew’s College, Kabare, Kenya, carved by Benson Ndaka in 1991. Commissioned and photo: Graham Kings

‘Abandon yourself for a little while to God and rest for a little while in him.’

Anselm, Proslogion Chapter 1.

‘Come apart, to stay together;

come away, to pray, to gather;

come awhile, unwind, recover;

come anew, to find, discover.’

Prevenient people prevent the peace;

    Jesus preaches and provides.

Kenyan Elder, seated on njung’wa,

    blesses and gives the loaves and fish.

Astonished, astounded,

    bemused and bewildered,

    five thousand are fed.

        (c) Graham Kings

        23 Dec 2025, Cambridge

In Kikuyu, njung’wa is the traditional three-legged stool of a Kikuyu elder.

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