FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

vention churches in Malawi adopted and continued with the same methodology, doing Sunday School on
Sunday mornings, and Bible study usually during the week (see Longwe 2000:75).
20. The Zion Church at Ndalama in Zomba chose to become a Baptist church. However, after about two
years, it reverted to Zion, see Longwe 2000:71.
21. Albright's work among the tribal people gave him ample time to study, know, and trust the Chewa
people. He found them to be capable in guiding themselves. This kind of attitude towards the indigenous
people brought some misunderstanding between Albright and the later missionaries when the Baptist na­
tionalleaders expressed desire to form their own national body (see Longwe 2000).
22. Rachel Banda (2001) discusses fully the history ofthe Baptist women's organisation in Malawi.
23. The number of churches in the associations range from six to twenty. However, Lilongwe is an
extraordinary association with more than a hundred churches.
24. That all believers are equal and that all have equal privileges before God. There is therefore no one
who is higher in authority over another. In other words, there is no hierarchical structure.
25. There are however varying degrees of centralising tendencies shown by BACOMA central
leadership.
Chapter four
26. Although Phiri mentions four stages, she lists five stages as follows. The first initiation ceremony is
the puberty rite, marking the end ofchildhood and the beginning ofwomanhood. The second ceremony is
when the matured girl has found a partner to marry, she undergoes sex education. After marriage, the
couple receives instruction on how to live as a couple. The fourth ceremony is the first pregnancy,
followed by instruction after the birth ofthe baby. See Phiri (1997:34-36).
27. Mdulo is a 'cultural disease' believed to be caused by breaking cultural taboos. See Van Breugel
(2001: 169-209) and DeGabriele (1999: 9-23) for a full discussion.
28. In matrilineal society, mbumba means female subjects from the maternal side, and in Chewa society,
they have great influence in the choice ofchiefs.
29. Salt is believed to be 'hot' just as the menstruating woman is 'hot' and can cause mdulo. See Van
Breugel (2001: 175-177) for a full discussion.
30. The normal context for choosing a chief is when the incumbent dies, and the elderly women discuss
as to who should be the successor. In other cases, when a chiefs jurisdiction becomes too large for him,
some families may require to separate themselves from him and choose their own chief among them. If
granted permission, then a new chief is installed. A new chief can be male or female. The new chief may
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