FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:
FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:
FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:
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all join in ululating and take the initiates into the seclusion house (tsimba). The tutors<br />
(aphungu) are then called to go inside and 'cut the head' (kudula mutu). The phungu<br />
(singular) is normally the one who named the girl at birth, or the mother may choose<br />
any trusted friend. 2 Then the leading namkungwi announces, 'dulani mutu! (cut the<br />
head!). The tutors make the girls kneel and each tutor whispers a saying into one ear<br />
and another into the second ear of the girl. Although kudula mutu literary means<br />
'cutting the head', its general meaning is that it is now chiyambi choti namwali<br />
ayambe kumva mwambo (it is now time to begin hearing the counsel). It involves<br />
whispering into the ears of the initiates. Any two of the following sayings are the<br />
usual ones to be said.<br />
1.<br />
2.<br />
3.<br />
Mzako akati tsegula<br />
Kodi ntsegula bwa?<br />
Uku phunthu uku phunthu<br />
Pakati palenga dela<br />
Tandiuza chalenga dela<br />
Chalenga dela m 'nkhole<br />
Nkhole yanga ndi ukulu<br />
Phungu liri ndi mwambo<br />
Tsinkhinthi, mwambo m 'nkhole<br />
Kafunde, funda mwambo<br />
Mzako akati sendera<br />
Kodi nsendera bwa?<br />
Uku kuli bawe uku bawe<br />
Pakati palenga dela<br />
Tandiuza chalenga dela<br />
Chalenga dela m 'nkhole<br />
Nkhole yanga ndi ukulu<br />
End as in 1 above<br />
Mzako akati ndagona<br />
Ndagona kalambilambi<br />
Kalambilambi wamnjira<br />
Uyo apita wampsyitikiza<br />
Tandiuza wampsyitikiza<br />
Wampsyitikiza m 'nkhole<br />
Nkhole yanga ndi ukulu<br />
End as in 1 above<br />
When your friend says open<br />
How do I open?<br />
There is mount here and one here<br />
And a gap in the middle<br />
Tell me what has caused the gap<br />
The menses have caused the gap<br />
My menses is adulthood<br />
The tutor has counsel<br />
The menses, counsel is secret<br />
Learning, learn the counsel<br />
When your friend says move closer<br />
How do I move closer?<br />
There is a mat here and one there<br />
And a gap in the middle<br />
Tell me what has caused the gap<br />
The menses have caused the gap<br />
My menses is adulthood<br />
When a friend says I lie<br />
I lie flat<br />
Lying flat on the path<br />
Everyone passing steps on<br />
Tell me who steps on<br />
The menses steps on<br />
My menses is adulthood<br />
Throughout the initiation period, the girls learn these sayings. The sayings also serve<br />
as a password after their initiation. To show that one was initiated, she must be able<br />
to respond correctly to the sayings. Even the newly wed couple test each other using<br />
the same sayings. To a couple the sayings are called zakumphasa (meaning 'for the<br />
bedroom'). There are many other sayings with a similar ending whereby a new<br />
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