FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

chiefs house so that we could light a fire. Next to the chiefs house was the
namkungwi's (instructress') house where women were busy lighting fires. Every fire
was to be lit from the main one for that is where the protective deterrents were
planted. At first there were only six big drums and six big clay pots called mbiya
lined up on the fires. Later on, there were more pots and drums.
Facing the chiefs house was a ground with few trees. Two larger trees seemed to be
in the centre ofthe ground, and on the side ofthe ground twelve chiefs were seated on
chairs, talking together, including the new chief. I was told that this was the bwalo
(ground) for gule wamkulu (the big dance) and that was where public ceremonies
were to be held.
Fortification of the Mkangali Ceremony
I did not observe this ceremony, as they had already performed the ritual in the
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morning before we arrived. In other areas it is performed the night before. My
informant said that the chief in charge of the ceremony plus one or two other chiefs,
and the chief being initiated, go round planting deterrents at some strategic places ­
the ground, the main fire place, the seclusion house, liunde, and mtengo wa namwali.
The purpose of the deterrents was for protection because 'anthu ambiri ndi
achipongwe' ('many people are evil'). 'It is therefore important that a chief protects
his people (mbumba.) , There are various types of deterrents, each having its own
instructions and taboos to be observed. However, the deterrents are for both
benevolent and malevolent purposes.
Fire Ritual
We also missed this ritual; it was done about noon. My informant said that the
leading namkungwi (singular) summons the rest of the anamkungwi to go and fetch
stones for the fireplace from a closeby area (three stones put in a triangle form the fire
place). They drop the stones about six meters away from the fireplace at the chiefs
house. Then with large mats or pieces of cloth, they make some kind of a fence to
shield all onlookers. Inside, the leading namkungwi, followed by the leading chiefs
wife (or wives), and the second namkungwi line up, lying flat on their tummies on the