FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

wamkulu by zirombo. In almost every home I saw a goat being slaughtered and
clusters ofpeople drinking or chatting. There were many young men and women who
had come home for the closing ceremony. At my informant's home, there were three
more new families that came on this particular day.
The njobvu (elephant) ceremony began early in the afternoon. We rushed to the
ground when we heard the drumming and the commotion ofthe people. The popi was
busy 'playing' with people and then the elephant came out of the liunde. It was
accompanied by another smaller nyau. The elephant danced for a short time in the
ground and then went to the chiefs house. I saw two women holding the two initiates
from the tree and showing them the elephant. The women covered the initiates
quickly and returned with them to the tree. Only men surrounded the elephant while
women and children were watching from a distance, except for those who were
singing. The elephant lay down in front of the chiefs house and the person making
announcements called for order. He asked people to give their monetary gifts towards
the ceremony. He mentioned group by group and in the end he called upon all visitors
to give their gifts. Closer to where I was a piece ofcloth was spread on the ground for
the money. A couple ofmen were busy collecting it, and handing it over to the person
who was in charge.
In the end he announced the amounts that were collected, and the total amount was
just over three thousand Kwacha (about U8$45). After a few words the elephant rose
and walked to the ground. Women were singing and covering it with their cloths,
while others were waving their cloths over it. It danced for a while and started offon
its way back to their place called dambwe. The popi danced mainly on the sides. We
followed to the end ofthe village closer to our home and then came back. Only a few
women singers continued with them and returned later.
We went back to the ground for the mnjedza. Three different groups danced, but the
new chief and his entourage joined and led in every group. The women were also
waving their cloths at the new chief as he vigorously danced, while he was waving his
lichowa (flywhisk) at the people. The women who were dancing were shaking their
buttocks briskly. People applauded and gave them monetary gifts. Apparently, the
male initiates were carried on the back of their tutors and brought inside to join the
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