FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

She mentioned that she did not know who typed the booklet, but she only saw the final
copy which was read at the annual meeting in either 1974 or 1975. She did not even
know who did the editing. However, the production of the booklet was a joint work
between the Malawians and missionaries; the Malawians did the translation, while the
missionaries did the editing. However, the content of the booklet was more or less
similar to the one for the Presbyterians of Nkhoma Synod. 65 The meeting agreed with
the contents of the booklet. Later on, copies were made available to the churches.
Churches were advised to choose alangizi who were supposed to come the following
year to the meeting for training on how to use the booklet.
However, in her note to me, Amayi Swafford mentioned that:
Mrs Phiri and I were asked to develop a program oftraining for Baptist girls and young
women. We interviewed a CCAP missionary, Mrs. Grunervault ... to get information
about the CCAP Alangizi program. Using her information and Mrs. Phiri's knowledge
of the cultural practices, Mrs Phiri and I developed what we felt was a suitable Christian
training program for Baptist Christians. The program is given step by step in the
book.
In further correspondence she added:
(Note, Amayi Swafford, 21/2/01)
I'm sure we took our completed work to that committee for discussion, alteration, and
final approval. I think the book was presented at an annual women's convention. From
there it was probably left up to the leaders of each association to train or give help as
each church requested help or information.
(Note, Amayi Swafford, 27/2/01).
A group ofother earlier Malawian leaders also mentioned that as a national committee,
'we had several meetings and discussions before the book came out.' The main argu­
ment was on their differences in some traditional customs, especially between 'rural and
urban women' (Int. Amayi Ngoma, Amayi busa Kanowa, Amayi busa Galatiya,
31/8/01). The informants emphasized that they worked as a team for one week and
when they finished, the draft was sent to the men's committee for approval. I am
uncertain as to which booklet they were referring to as they mentioned both the chila­
ngizo booklet and the women's manual in our discussion.
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