FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

I left for the ground when a message came that the women should hurry up with the
girls as the people were waiting for them.
The ceremony at the Ground
At the ground I found the chiefs coming out of the chiefs house entering the ground
in a line for a dance called mnjeza. The men were holding either a stick or a branch,
but the new chief was holding a flywhisk and had put on a hat, and a gown. The
colour of the gown was same as that of his two wives traditional suits (sky blue).
There were six men and sixteen women.
While the drumming continued, they danced in a circle, changed to a semi circle, then
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to a line, and so on. Sometimes they danced around the big tree or lined up in front of
the drummers. Those who were seated went to give money gifts, especially to the
new chiefwho was dancing vigorously. I did not record the songs for this dance.
Then the girls came in lined up with their tutors, but without the decorations on their
faces. I noticed that the girls wore a piece of cloth on top of their skirts folded in a
triangular way. I was informed that since they would be carried on the shoulders, the
cloth would be like long pants. They joined the dancing crew for a while and went out
running. They went back to the tree, and after a short while came back with the
decorations on. I was informed that they had made a mistake to bring the girls already
decorated at first. The girls joined the dancing, but were not dancing close to the men.
The ground was packed with onlookers.
The chipandamgaga ceremony (stepping the soil) then commenced. In the midst of
the crowd, all dancers moved a few meters away from the big tree to a spot where the
magical deterrents were planted. The chief, his wives, the instructresses, and the girls
were dancing with all their feet meeting at the spot.
21. Chiponda mgaga, de de
Wachiona chiponda mgaga
The stepping ofthe soil, de de
YDU have seen the stepping ofthe soil
Meaning: This is the initiation you were looking forward to, and this is the girl initiate that
you were given. (Referring mainly to the fIrst girl to be given to the chief).