The Chinamwali ceremonies, deeply rooted in Cheŵa-speaking communities across Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, represent initiation rituals exclusive to Cheŵa women.
Traditionally spanning from several days to months, the major Chinamwali ceremony typically occurs at the onset of puberty. Notably, in recent decades, there has been an observed trend of adult women choosing to undergo this initiation, despite being past the age limit traditionally required. (1)
Initiates are bound by secrecy regarding the specifics of the rituals and teachings received during their initiation. Nonetheless, practitioners have characterised the rites as a celebration of womanhood, whereby older women provide guidance and instruction to younger generations about menstrual hygiene, sexual relations, childbearing and how to navigate the duties and obligations of an adult woman within the local community.
In addition to these teachings, initiates are instructed in traditional dances, songs, and the symbolism integral to the Chinamwali ceremony.
In this recording, we hear the women leading the ceremony calling upon the Chief of the Kasungu district to grant his authority for the traditional rituals to begin. Reed mats are laid out for the initiates to sit upon in the homestead where the ceremony will commence.
My thanks to Waliko Makhala of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation for the translation and transcription that follows.
Chief Njombwa, Spread Out The Mat
Chief Njombwa, Spread Out The Mat
Chief Njombwa, spread out the mat
The initiation ceremony is set, it is coming
This is a big initiation ceremony
Get ready!
Chorus:
Chief Njombwa, spread out the mat
Spread It!
Chief Njombwa, spread out the mat
Spread It!
The initiate is coming
A great initiation
Spread It!
Here are the lyrics in the original Chewa.
Inu a Njombwa, Yalani Phasa
Inu a Njombwa yalani phasa
Inu a Njombwa yalani phasa
Kuno kukubwera chinamwali chanu
Chinamwali chanu chachikulu kulu ako
Chorus
Inu a Njombwa yalani phasa
Yalani!
Inu a Njombwa yalani phasa
Yalani!
Kukubwera chinamwali chanu
Chinamwali chachikulukulu
Yalani!
Gule Wankulu song,
from the Njombwa Traditional Authority area in Kasungu district,
from the Malawi Broadcasting Corporations archives,
translated and transcribed by Waliko Makhala.
Footnotes
- “Reasons why female adults are choosing to undergo Chinamwali- the initiation ceremony for girls in Petauke, Zambia”, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science , Vol. 5, No. 3, (2021), pp. 202–206 (https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-5-issue‑3/202–206.pdf)
