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The village of Petros is situated in the middle of Malawi, about 50 kilometres north of the capital, Lilongwe. Organised in rural communities, but not far from civilisation, the farmers in this village rely on the local market, where they sell tobacco and beans and grow maize, their basic nutrient. In 2004 it ever rained and they lost their harvest, but a famine was avoided thanks to help provided by the Sant'Egidio Community. The village of Petros takes its name from the village chief, Petros James. In compliance with the Chewa law, he inherited his position as village chief not from his father, but from an uncle, his mother's brother. The son of his own sister Neri will inherit the title from Petros and he will take his name, just as Petros took his from his uncle. As Petros says, the sons and daughters of your sister are your real relatives, your real home comes from your mother. I met Petros together with Mr. Pierro and Moses Chingona from the Sant'Egidio food centre and workshop in nearby Mtengawantenga. After spending a few minutes together, he gave me permission to spend a week in the village. Petros took me to his farm and showed me to his bedroom. He and his wife moved into the kitchen. It was only a few days later that I understood the meaning of this concession: the hospitality I received was so generous, so spiritual, that it is almost unthinkable in my own country. I have tried to speak of this generosity of the spirit. But the sense of this experience is elusive, rendered silent by prejudice, obscured by ignorance. The sun is setting, there is an emptiness before the profound darkness envelops the village, a group of children gather around me, whispering in the twilight, just to stand and look at me.

Museo di Roma in Trastevere

Piazza S. Egidio, 1 b 00153 Roma Italia

06 5816563

www.comune.roma.it/museodiroma.trastevere

OPENING TIME: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 - 20

closed on Monday

(Tickets are sold until h. 19)

TICKETS: integrated entrance ticket exhibitions + museum EURO 4 - reduced EURO 3

COME ARRIVARE:

Bus: n. H, 23, 44,75, 116, 280, j4

Tram: n. 3, 8