FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

Or
Bvulani tioneko, tioneko, kodi
Bvulani tioneko uchembere
Ati siuyu tioneko
Uyo apande kubvula panG
Ali ngwala
Undress let's see, let's see,
Undress, let's see motherhood
Here it is let's see
Whoever does not undress here
Is to see
They tell the girls, 'Now that you have been initiated, do not go out and tell others that
you saw so and so's nakedness.' Sometimes the male drummers, half-naked, also join
the women. This is to show the seriousness ofthe mwambo on sex.
Two or three pairs of women act as wife bathing the husband. Starting from the head,
she washes him, massaging and stretching every part down to the feet while singing:
Ukatere, ukatere,
Potsuka oMwale
You go and do like this, like this
When bathing Mr. Mwale (name)
Then each woman pairs with an initiate and repeats the actions while the rest continue
singing the above song or a variety ofsimilar songs.
After the bathing ritual, pairs of women shave the pubic hair, followed by the woman
and initiate pairs. A piece of cloth is folded into the shape of a man's sexual organ on
his body. The husband lies flat on his back with his legs stretched apart, while the wife
kneels and carefully shaves him with a razor blade. When she finishes, she cleans him
with a damp piece of cloth. She then disposes ofthe hair. When it is the husband's turn
to shave the wife, she sits with her legs apart, but they end up having sexual relations.
During the mock ceremonies, other informants showed how, after the shaving ritual, the
wife carries the husband on her back to the bathroom, undresses him, washes and dries
him. After smearing ointment and dressing him, she carries him on her back to the
house. She then prepares food, carries him on her lap and feeds him. Each act is accom­
panied by singing.
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