FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

Later in the afternoon I heard singing and bell ringing, and I saw some of the people
move towards the source of the sound. Soon I saw children running away. Then I
saw a lion like chirombo (singular). The structure of the chirombo was woven with
fine, combed grass and it looked like a puppy. A few women were singing the same
song above for it while others were running away. The 'puppy' played around for a
while then disappeared. I was about to take a nap when I heard another commotion
and saw people rushing into houses. I knew it was another chirombo, and so I stayed
indoor and peeped through a hole in the window. A group of young men were
coming with a long chirombo called chimkoko. It was artistically woven with maize
husks and contained twelve people. Two smaller ones, containing only one person,
joined it. The 'puppy' was also among them moving from one side to the other,
playing around with the people. They were all heading to the ground, while the rest
of us were cautiously following behind. A few women were singing closer to the
zirombo, while many ofthe women and children would come closer, at the same time
running away. At the ground they danced for a while then they disappeared.
On our way back to our home, I heard singing with drumming in the chiefs house. I
was informed that those were the anamkungwi and the chiefs' wives just practising,
but also giving notice that 'tonight's programme is on!' Then I saw some children
and women moving towards the far back of the chiefs house. We followed, and my
informant realised that they were going to kumtengo wa namwali (to the initiate's
tree). She said that she did not know at what time the girls were officially'captured. '
Nevertheless, she told me to follow her to the tree.
Kugwira anamwali ('Capturing' the initiates)
The account of the 'capturing' ofthe girls and the 'head cutting' rituals is taken from
the mock chinamwali.
The official 'capturing' of the initiates is usually done in the afternoon hours,
although some carry it out in the morning. In the midst of the crowd, each
namkungwi, takes a girl, covers her with a piece ofcloth and announces: 'Lero ndiwe
namwali, usatuluka kubwalo.' ('Today you are an initiate, do not go outside'). They
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