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FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

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importance of the ritual. The presence of the ancestors also signifies the importance of<br />

history. There is continuity ofhistory as the miyambo (ancestral customs) are passed on<br />

from one generation to the next through chinamwali.<br />

Another significant element of the presence of nyau at chinamwali for girls is that it<br />

symbolizes a prayer for obtaining fertility for the girls. This is featured more in the<br />

songs that mention the female and male genital parts (kulaula). According to Van<br />

Breugel (2001:151-152), 'the dances and songs are in some way a celebration of the<br />

powers of life, a eulogy of the generative powers of man, and of the Creator.' The<br />

miming ofthe sexual act and the erotic dance by the women also signify the importance<br />

of fertility for the continuation ofthe community. The swearing of an oath at the end of<br />

the vigil and the mentioning of Leza shows that the prayers are not directed to the<br />

mizimu but to Chiuta through the mizimu. This shows that barrenness of a woman in<br />

Chewa society is regarded as taboo. Thus prayer to placate the mizimu to receive their<br />

blessings is vital in Chewa society.<br />

In addition to the nyau masked dancers, various other functionaries play significant<br />

roles which have symbolic meanings at the chinamwali. The Chewa chief is both a<br />

political and a religious leader. He mediates between the living and the ancestors and<br />

oversees that people carry out all the ancestral customs. At mkangali, the elephant nyau,<br />

signifying a powerful spirit, is the chiefs symbol. The 'elephant' head crown (chi­<br />

ngondo) of the leading girl links her with the powerful realm of the spirits (of the<br />

chiefs.) It should be noted that during the chiefs vigil on the first day of the ceremony,<br />

the new chief is given chitambala (the elephant's trunk) and some herbal mixture as a<br />

symbol ofpower over his people. Therefore, the elephant is a sign of power. The chief<br />

also symbolizes a husband to the girl after she has matured. He provides the right mtela<br />

(herbal medicine) during the 'marginal' state of her first menses as well as during her<br />

chinamwali.<br />

Other important figures during chinamwali are the anamkungwi (instructresses), who<br />

are said to be the custodians ofthe miyambo ya makolo (ancestral customs) on behalfof<br />

the living dead. Tutors (aphungu) are mentors assigned to the initiates. They attend to<br />

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