FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

sleeps at a friend's house during the night, for it is impolite for a mature girl to sleep
in the same house with the parents). At the door, the namkungwi tells the girl to kneel
while the other girls wait standing. The namkungwi puts a small stick below the first
stair into the house. She helps the girl to stand and lets her jump over the stick
(kumuolotsa), and she enters the house without looking back. The girl's tutor must
stand beside her so that they both enter into the house. Before they enter the house,
the girl's mother gives them some money. Then the namkungwi picks up the stick
and the rest continue to the second girl's home where the ritual is repeated. This goes
on until all the girls are taken to their respective homes. To reinforce each girl's
memory, the tutor repeats instructions on some important issues at the house, such as
respecting her parents and elderly people, helping with house chores, and observing
taboos. Each girl is instructed to stay close to her house during the following week
until she undergoes the dulira (cut the small hairs round the face) ritual so that she
avoids meeting the chiefbefore the dulira ceremony is performed.
After one week, the tutors (aphungu) collect the girls from their homes to take them
back to the seclusion house, while the anamkungwi assemble in another house. Then
they all go to the bwalo (ground). The girls sit on mats with their tutors. Each tutor
brings a razor blade for her initiate. While the girls are seated, the tutor unwraps the
razor blade and puts it on the girl's head and places money on top of the razor blade.
Then the anamkungwi collects the money from all the girls. When she has finished,
each tutor neatly shaves the hair round the face of the girl. The mothers dispose of
their daughter's hair. The anamkungwi assists any tutor who is not doing well. The
mothers just look on. When all are through, the anamkungwi asks anyone to begin
counselling again. The mothers begin by throwing money first then they speak. After
the mothers, anyone else is free to give advice. When all are finished, the mother
takes a plate of flour or some money and gives it to the anamkungwi to share with her
colleagues as a token ofappreciation.
The tutors take the girls back to their respective homes. They repeat to the girls what
their mothers had rebuked them about at the bwalo and exhort them to change to
adulthood behaviour. These activities mark the end of the chinamwali ceremony. If
the girls attend school, they are then free to return there.
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