FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

seclusion until the chinamwali ceremony at the end ofher menses. In the meantime the
parents and the church women should prepare for the vigil ceremony.
In order to give the same sense of excitement and anticipation as for the traditional
event, chinamwali should follow the traditional pattern, but with Christian content.
Singing, action, and explanation should be the main pattern of instruction. This gives
the instructresses opportunity to be more creative in forming the necessary Christian
songs. Similarly, the elderly women (machembere) of the church and the previously
initiated girls could be part of the instructing team for the whole night. The content of
the instruction could as much as possible be contained in the songs and cover elements
such as: the meaning and implications of menstruation, ulemu (respect) and khalidwe
labwino (good behaviour), ukhondo (hygiene). Sex education must be the main element
with the emphasis on how and why the girls should remain pure until marriage. 83 Let
the initiates be taught how to live as adults and Christians in society.
7.4 A CHRISTIAN CHINAMWALI
The following is a proposed chinamwali ceremony for the night at the end of a girl's
first menstruation. 84
GAWO LACHIWIRI
SECOND PART
CHINAMWALl (KUTHA MSINKHU)
PUBERTY RITE CEREMONY
Malangizo kwa Alangizi
Instructions for the Instructresses
Pamene alangizi mwadziwitsidwa kuti mtsikana watha msinkhu, muyenera
mukumane ndi mtsikanayo mwansanga. Mumuuze mwachidule tanthauzo la
zimene zamuchitikirazo. Mumuphunzitsenso kabvalidwe ndi kasamalidwe ka
mwele. Mtsikanayo asagwire ntchito yolemetsa, komanso asayende yende mpaka
atabvinidwa potsirizira pa msambowo.
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