FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

mwana (birth of the child). The aim of the proposed ceremonies is to leave room for
creativity and adjustment. The proposed liturgy in this dissertation is for the puberty
chinamwali. Appendix E is the proposed booklet containing the first part and only the
puberty ceremony in the second part.
Although mkangali is the highest level oftraditional initiation for girls, not many people
favour it because of its consequences as discussed in section 4.4 above. Many chiefs
prefer to initiate their girls at other ceremonies such as funerals or the commemoration
of funerals at chiriza or at mpalo. The actual instruction given to the girls at these cere­
monies is done at night and is similar to the instruction given at mkangali during the
girls' vigil with the nchembere (elderly women). It was suggested and agreed in our dis­
cussions that the Christian response maintain as much as possible the traditional
framework - an initial preliminary instruction as soon as a girl experiences her first
menses and a night vigil ceremony at the end ofthe menses instead of some months or a
year later. The night's ritual should have the dynamism of the traditional rite but ­
singing and dancing, drama, prayers, etc. but with Christian content. All church infor­
mants agreed that every congregation arrange with its alangizi once-a-month meetings
for the girls. The instructresses should continue to instruct the girls on how to maintain
their purity until and after marriage. 82 At the end ofthe year, all the instructresses could
meet together in their various zones with their girls for three to four days, the aim ofthis
event being larger participation whereby about ten to twelve local congregations meet
together. Fellowship, prayer, Bible study, learning of other skills, games, and other
activities could be the content ofsuch an event.
For the preliminary instruction, the mother needs to inform the instructress as soon as
her daughter matures. The instructress in turn informs the pastor (through his wife), and
the chief (through his anamkungwi). The mother must give the chiefs dues through the
instructress. The two instructresses ought to meet with the girl at her home the same day
to give her the preliminary instruction and to pray with her and her mother, aunt or
grandmother thanking God for the girl's puberty and asking God to protect her from the
evil one, and to bless her with good health and good future. The girl could remain in
123