FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

Akakwatana. When in marriage.
A drama on a faithful and unfaithful wife was then performed in which the initiates
acted the role of wives. Two couples performed. Each husband said to his wife,
'Since we have nothing in this house, I am going to look for work in the city.' The
wives agreed and the husbands bid farewell to the mothers in law as well after
explaining why they were going away. Upon their return, one husband found another
man with his wife, who, ofcourse fled. The angry husband then went and complained
to the namkungwi asking her, 'Did you really counsel her well? Look at what she has
done!' It was therefore the responsibility ofthe namkungwi to sort out the matter with
the couple in order to preserve the marriage. The other husband found his wife
without any problem. After she welcomed him, he went to thank the namkungwi that
his wife really understood the mwambo (counsel) that she was given. 'Look we are
together again!' the husband proudly commented. Although no explanation was
given to the girls, the drama itselfwas self-explanatory.
The swearing in ceremony solemnized the rite. While the girls were seated, one
namkungwi told them that this is very secret and should not be revealed to anyone. If
revealed even their mothers would die. Then three anamkungwi and the three initiates
formed a circle and knelt down in the middle of the room. They were very close to
each other so that their heads were touching one another. It was difficult to hear or
see most of what was being said or done. But while singing softly they were all
beating the ground with their palms. Then I saw them swearing by pointing toward
heaven, and mentioned Leza (literary, 'lightening,' but one of the Chewa names for
God) (Breugel 2001:30). They beat the ground and swore several times.
Additional songs from the mock ceremonies included:
50. Ukakatere x 3 Ifyou do like this
Siukadya ntu wambalame You are not going to eat the bird's head
Ukakatere x 3 Ifyou do like this,
Siukamuona mwamuna You will not see a man
The women sang while halfkneeling, and clasping hands, they danced in semi-circles,
with closed legs.
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