FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

stand and makes her jump over the stick (kumuolotsa). She enters the house without
looking back. This symbolizes doing away with the past life. 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 the stick and the others
continue to the second girl's home where the procedure is repeated. The activity is
repeated until· all the girls are taken to their respective homes. To reinforce their mem­
ory, the tutor repeats instruction on some important issues to the girl at the house, such
as respecting her parents and elderly people, helping with house chores, and observing
taboos. The girls are instructed to stay close to the house during the following week
until they undergo dulira (cut the small hairs round the face) ritual This is to avoid her
meeting with the chiefbefore the dulira ceremony is performed.
After one week, the tutors (aphungu) collect the girls 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 around the girl's
face. The mothers dispose of the hairs of their daughters. The anamkungwi assists any
tutor who is not doing well. The mothers just look on. When all are through, the ana­
mkungwi asks anyone to begin counselling again. The mothers begin by throwing
money first then they speak. After the mothers have spoken, anyone else is free to give
her counsel. When all are finished, each 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 adult­
hood behaviour. These activities mark the end of the chinamwali ceremony. If the girls
attend school they are then free to return there.
They are, however, reminded that after the initiation, when they meet with the chief,
they must kneel at the far side of the road (kupatuka). Then the chief will give them
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